The two teams to advance out of a loaded Group D in the Africa Cup of Nations are both in action on Sunday in the quarterfinals, and both will be favored to advance. However, unlike the two games on Saturday, these two games do not have very clear-cut favorites. Ghana and Mali will be tested much more than Cote D’Ivoire and Zambia were.
Africa Cup Of Nations 2012, Quarterfinals: Favorites Ghana, Mali Face Good Tests
Ghana should be tested by Tunisia on Sunday, while hosts Gabon take on Mali.
Ghana are up against Tunisia, who have had an up and down tournament thus far. The Eagles of Carthage lost to Gabon and were tested by Niger more than they should have been, but they were impressive in their win against Morocco. This is their first game of the tournament against a top team in good form, so it’s difficult to predict exactly how much trouble they’ll give to the Black Stars.
Mali will be up against a hostile crowd when they take on tournament co-hosts Gabon. Though many expected Gabon to progress to the quarterfinals, few expected them to do it in such dominant fashion. They’ve been the second best team in the tournament thus far, behind just Cote D’Ivoire in goal differential, and they have the talent to pull off what would only be a minor upset.
Africa Cup of Nations Quarterfinals, Sunday matches
Gabon vs. Mali - 11:00 a.m. ET
Ghana vs. Tunisia - 2:00 p.m. ET
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