Equatorial Guinea chase upset win over Mali in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations 

The Round of 16 at the Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations will be brought to a close on the Wednesday night with the meeting of Mali and Equatorial Guinea at the Limbe Stadium.
Equatorial Guinea have been one of the surprise packages of the tournament thus far, earning their spot in the knockout rounds by finishing second in Group E behind Ivory Coast.
They recovered from an opening loss to the Elephants by sensationally defeating reigning champions Algeria, followed by a clutch 1-0 win over Sierra Leone last Thursday – courtesy of a goal from Pable Ganet – to clinch progression.
Nzalang Nacional are very much outsiders for this clash, but coach Juan Micha Obiang is hopeful his side maintain the underdog attitude which has served them so well thus far at the Afcon.
Mali were quietly one of the most impressive teams on show in the Group Stage, topping a tricky pool ahead of impressive debutants Gambia (who also ended unbeaten and with seven points), Tunisia and Mauritania.
The Equatorial Guinea national team enters this match with great hopes to continue their journey. Guineans fooball-map has changed in the past years since its participation in organizing the tournament with Gabon in 2012, then organizing the Cannes alone in 2015 and reaching the semi-finals, to become a team that knows the traditions of the tournament well, during the group stage journey made the biggest surprises were by defeating Algeria, the holder of the title and the owner of the great continental name, in a distinguished tactical match, during which they showed their ability to embarrass any competitor, no matter what his name was.