AFCON 2023: Power Rankings After Round of 16, Nigeria Top, South Africa 3rd

• The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations has reached the quarter-finals
• Top sides such as Morocco and Senegal have been eliminated
• Nigeria are now atop the power rankings ahead of South Africa

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations delivered again on Tuesday night.

South Africa shell-shocked pre-tournament favourites, Morocco in the Round of 16 to send them home early.

After the Round of 16, Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, and Algeria are out of the competition, meaning we have new favourites to win the tournament.

Nigeria, Angola, Cape Verde, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali, and DR Congo are the teams left in the tournament.

The quarter-finals kick off on Friday, February 1, with Nigeria vs Angola and DR Congo vs Guinea. Who are the top dogs remaining in the competition? Sports Brief ranks every team.

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AFCON power rankings

8. DR Congo

The two-time AFCON champions have not won a game so far in Ivory Coast, but they've also not lost a single game. All their matches have ended in draws. The Leopards eliminated Egypt in the Round of 16 and will face Guinea in the quarter-finals, per CAF. They could lift the trophy without losing a game, but things will get tougher the further they go.

7. Guinea

Guinea have had an indifferent campaign. They won one, drew one and lost one of their three group games before scoring a last-gasp winner against Equatorial Guinea in the Round of 16. A quarter-final clash against winless DR Congo is winnable.

6. Angola

The Palancas Negras are the surprise package in Ivory Coast. No team left in the competition has scored more goals than Angola. Their dynamic duo, Mabululu and Gelson Dala have scored seven of their nine goals. They're certainly a team that can beat anyone, including their quarter-final opponents, Nigeria.

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5. Ivory Coast

The Elephants are suddenly in the quarter-finals after a miraculous revival. Their tournament was all but over in the group stage, but a series of results went their way to send them to the knockout round. They beat Senegal on penalties in the Round of 16. That win has catapulted them to fifth in the rankings.

4. Cape Verde

No one foresaw the Blue Sharks topping a group with Ghana and Egypt and even outlasting them in the tournament, but here they are. They have dominated almost every game they've played with their high-octane style. The Islanders face South Africa in the quarter-final, and a win is possible against Bafana Bafana.

3. South Africa

Bafana Bafana are in seventh heaven after eliminating Morocco in the Round of 16. Most had written them off, but knocking the favourites out is no mean feat. Alongside Cape Verde, Hugo Broos's side have played some of the best football in the tournament. The 1996 champions have won just twice in the competition, but things are looking good.

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2. Mali

The Eagles are quietly putting together a sensational campaign. They are unbeaten and have conceded just twice in Ivory Coast. In the Round of 16, they dominated Burkina Faso and are likely to deliver another crushing blow to hosts Ivory Coast in the last eight.

1. Nigeria

The Super Eagles, alongside Ivory Coast, are the last 'big team' remaining in the competition. Jose Peseiro's side have had a flawless campaign, winning three of their four games and conceding just once. The Super Eagles have not played their best football, but their defensive solidity is proving to be vital.

Nigeria named AFCON favourites

With Senegal out of the tournament, the Opta supercomputer have disclosed the new favourite to win the competition.

Three-time AFCON champions Nigeria are now favourites to lift the title with a 28.8% chance. The Super Eagles are having a great tournament. They could face Cape Verde, and South Africa if they go through, as Sports Brief reported earlier.

Mali are the second favourites with a 14.7% chance, while hosts Ivory Coast are third with a 13.5% chance.