Nigeria’s Super Eagles successfully navigated their way past the group stage of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau in Abidjan, maintaining an undefeated record and solidifying their position as Group A runners-up.

With the final standings in Group A now determined, Nigeria awaits their last-16 opponent in the AFCON, which will be the runners-up from Group C. Group C includes strong contenders such as Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea, and Gambia, who are yet to complete their group stage fixtures.

Presently, Senegal leads Group C with an impressive six points from two games, showcasing their dominance with a 3-0 victory over Gambia and a 3-1 triumph against Cameroon. The defending champions’ upcoming match against Guinea holds significant implications for the knockout stage draw.

Guinea, currently in second place with four points, has the opportunity to surpass Senegal with a victory in their clash on Tuesday. A win for Guinea would propel them to the top of the group, potentially setting up a showdown with Nigeria in the knockout stage.

However, a draw or a Senegal win would secure the top spot for the Teranga Lions, ensuring Guinea finishes second and becomes Nigeria’s last-16 adversary.

Cameroon, with just one point from two games, faces a challenging task to secure a spot in the next round. To advance, they must defeat Gambia and hope for favorable results elsewhere. A substantial victory for Cameroon, combined with a significant win for Senegal over Guinea, could see the Indomitable Lions leapfrog into second place.

A potential Cameroon-Nigeria faceoff adds intrigue to the AFCON, given their historical rivalry and Cameroon’s three previous victories over the Super Eagles.

Gambia, at the bottom of Group C with zero points, remains a potential spoiler. While they cannot advance to the second spot, a notable win against Cameroon could see them qualify among the best losers.

Guinea, with their recent 2-0 friendly victory over Nigeria, emerges as a likely opponent for the Super Eagles in the last-16. The looming fixtures between Senegal, Guinea, and Cameroon will undoubtedly shape the course of the knockout stage, adding an extra layer of anticipation to Nigeria’s AFCON 2023 journey.