Potential opponent for Ivory Coast: Nigeria

With each team playing two games each, the 2013 African Cup of Nations could not be any tighter. Yet, the Ivory Coast became the first team to qualify, while Algeria became the first team eliminated from the tournament. With the Ivory Coast looking on track to win its first African Cup of Nations since 1992, we look at the records of the potential quarterfinals opponents for the Ivory Coast to see if the country can return to the final yet again.

While its next game is against Algeria, the Ivory Coast would not play a meaningful match until February 3 in the quarterfinals at Rustenburg:

Ivory Coast vs Nigeria

Another scenario with two heavyweights meeting in the quarterfinals could happen should the Ivory Coast face Nigeria. Nigeria would face the Ivory Coast in the quarterfinals if:

• Nigeria wins against Ethiopia AND Zambia wins against Burkina Faso AND Zambia outscores Nigeria.
• Nigeria and Zambia both tie their matches AND Nigeria outscores Zambia. If both teams score the same amount of goals, the next tie-breaker would come down to a better booking record, and if need be, the dreaded casting of lots.

In addition to four friendlies, these two nations have meet at these tournaments:

1968 African Cup of Nations (group stage)

• March 12, 1967: Nigeria 0, Ivory Coast 0
• Game played in Lagos
• May 7, 1967: Ivory Coast 2, Nigeria 0
• Game played in Abidjan

1978 FIFA World Cup (third round playoff)

• July 10, 1997: Nigeria 4, Ivory Coast 0
• Game played in Lagos
• July 25, 1997: Ivory Coast 2, Nigeria 2
• Game played in Abidjan

1980 African Cup of Nations (group stage)

• March 12, 1980: Nigeria 0, Ivory Coast 0
• Game played at Surulere Stadium in Lagos

1990 African Cup of Nations (groups stage)

• March 8, 1990: Nigeria 1, Ivory Coast 0
• Game played at Stade 5 Julliet 1962 in Algiers, Algeria

1994 FIFA World Cup (final group stage)

• May 2, 1993: Ivory Coast 2, Nigeria 1
• Game played at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan
• September 25, 1993: Nigeria 4, Ivory Coast 1
• Game played at Lagos National Stadium in Lagos 

1994 African Cup of Nations (semifinal)

• April 6, 1994: Nigeria 2, Ivory Coast 2 (after extra time, Nigeria defeats Ivory Coast 4-2 on penalty shootout)
• Game played at Stade de Mensah in Tunis, Tunisia

2006 African Cup of Nations (semifinal)

• February 7, 2006: Ivory Coast 1, Nigeria 0
• Game played at Harras El-Hedoud Stadium in Alexandria, Egypt

2008 African Cup of Nations (group stage)

• January 21, 2008: Ivory Coast 1, Nigeria 0
• Game played at Sekondi Stadium in Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana

2008 Men's Olympic Football Tournament (quarterfinals)

• August 16, 2008: Nigeria 2, Ivory Coast 0
• Game played at Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Qinhuangdao, China