Five Bundesliga professionals through to AFCON knockouts after Cote d’Ivoire’s “Great Escape”

The Moroccan “Atlas Lions” have qualified for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations knockout round as group winners following a 1-0 win over 2012 African continental champions Zambia in their final group stage match. The North Africans have avoided the fate of regional rivals Algeria and Tunisia.  Second place belongs to the Leopards of Congo DR. Three Bundesliga professionals (Noussair Mazraoui, Amine Adli, and Silas) all move deeper into the tournament thanks to the result. Hosts Cote d’Ivoire may breathe a sigh of relief as the stars have aligned for them after all. Les Elephants are through to the Round-of-16 as the final third-place team permitted to pass.  The “Great Escape” for Cote d’Ivoire means that the tournament continues for Bundesliga representatives Odilon Kossounou and Sebastien Haller. Neither has seen any action at the competition yet. Haller remains out injured while Kossounou lost his starting place.  Kossounou may nevertheless get another chance as the Ivorians have fired their coach after their humiliating defeat against Equatorial Guinea.