Third place match-up and final: previous meetings

Strangely enough, both meetings will be rematches of group stage matches played earlier at this year's AFCON tournament. The third place match is also a rematch of the third-place match played last year at the 2012 AFCON tournament. 

Here is a recap of the previous meetings from these two match-ups, including the recent meetings:

Ghana vs Mali

• AFCON 1976 (qualifying phase)
• April 13, 1975: Mali 3, Ghana 1
• April 27, 1975: Ghana 4, Mali 0
• 2010 FIFA World Cup (qualifying phase)
• June 7, 2009: Mali 0, Ghana 2 
• Game played at Stade 26 Mars in Bamako
• November 15, 2009: Ghana 2, Mali 2
• Game played at Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi
• AFCON 2012 (the first meeting was in the group stage; the second meeting was the third-place match)
• January 28, 2012: Ghana 2, Mali 0
• Game played at Stade de Franceville in Franceville, Gabon
• February 11, 2012: Mali 2, Ghana 0
• Game played at Nuevo Estadio de Malabo in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
• AFCON 2013 (group stage)
• January 24, 2013: Ghana 1, Mali 0
• Game played at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Nigeria vs Burkina Faso

• AFCON 1978
• March 5, 1978: Nigeria 4, Upper Volta 2
• Game played at Accra Sports Stadium in Accra, Ghana
• 1998 FIFA World Cup 
• November 9, 1996: Nigeria 2, Burkina Faso 0
• Game played at Lagos National Stadium in Lagos
• April 27, 1997: Burkina Faso 1, Nigeria 2
• Game played at Stade du 4-Août in Ouagadougou
• 2001 FIFA U-17 World Cup 
• September 27, 2001: Nigeria 1, Burkina Faso 0
• Game played at Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima, Trinidad & Tobago
• AFCON 2013 (group stage)
• January 21, 2013: Burkina Faso 1, Nigeria 1
• Game played at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, South Africa

Semifinal matchups and histories prior

Four teams remain, and they come from Groups B & C.

First Semifinal at Durban:

Mali vs Nigeria

• 1999 FIFA U-20 World Cup (quarterfinals)
• April 18, 1999: Nigeria 1, Mali 3
• Game played at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu
• 2002 African Cup of Nations (first match was in group stage, second match was third-place match)
• January 24, 2002: Mali 0, Nigeria 0
• Game played at Stade 26 Mars in Bamako
• February 9, 2002: Mali 0, Nigeria 1
• Game played at Stade Barema Bocoum in Mopti
• 2004 African Cup of Nations (third-place match)
• February 13, 2004: Nigeria 2, Mali 1
• Game played at Stade Mustapha Ben Jannet in Monastir, Tunisia
• 2008 African Cup of Nations (group stage)
• January 25, 2008: Nigeria 0, Mali 0
• Game played at Sekondi Stadium in Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana
• Friendlies
• July 14, 1978: Nigeria 3, Mali 1
• Game played in Algiers, Algeria
• December 18, 1983: Mali 0, Nigeria 0
• Game played in Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Second semifinal at Nelspruit:

Burkina Faso vs Ghana

• 1978 AFCON (group stage)
• March 10, 1978: Ghana 3, Burkina Faso (Upper Volta) 0
• Game played at Accra Sports Stadium in Accra
• 2006 FIFA World Cup (second round qualifying)
• June 5, 2004: Burkina Faso 1, Ghana 0
• Game played at Stade du 4-Aout in Ouagadougou
• June 5, 2005: Ghana 2, Burkina Faso 1
• Game played at Kumasi National Sports Council Stadium in Kumasi
• 2010 AFCON
• January 19, 2010: Ghana 1, Burkina Faso 0
• Game played at Estadio 11 de Novembro in Luanda, Angola
• Friendlies
• October 1, 1967: Ghana 5, Burkina Faso (Upper Volta) 2
• Game played in Accra
• February 19, 1982: Ghana 1, Burkina Faso (Upper Volta) 0
• Game played in Cotonou, Benin

Overall records of the four quarterfinal matches in South Africa

With the four quarterfinal matches set this weekend, here is a look at the histories of these matches.

First quarterfinal at Port Elizabeth's Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium:

Ghana vs Cape Verde Islands

2006 FIFA World Cup (second round qualifying)

• September 5, 2004: Ghana 2, Cape Verde Islands 0
• Game played at National Sports Council Stadium in Kumasi
• October 8, 2005: Cape Verde Islands 0, Ghana 4
• Game played at Estadio da Varzea in Praia
• NOTE: Ghana qualified for its first ever World Cup on October 8, the same day that South Africa and DR Congo tied its match.

Friendly:

• November 14, 2012: Ghana 1, Cape Verde Islands 0
• Game played at Estadio Universitario de Lisboa in Lisbon, Portugal

Second quarterfinal at Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium:

South Africa vs Mali

2002 African Cup of Nations (quarterfinal)

• February 3, 2002: Mali 2, South Africa 0
• Game played at Stade Abdoulaye Nakoro Cissoko in Kayes
• Among players on squads from that tournament still playing
• MALI: Seydou Keita, Fousenni Diawara, Adama Coulibaly, 

Third quarterfinal at Rustenburg's Royal Bafokeng Stadium:

Ivory Coast vs Nigeria

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

Friendlies:

• June 23, 1985: Ivory Coast 1, Nigeria 1
• Game played at Abidjan
• January 4, 1987: Nigeria 0, Ivory Coast 0
• Game played in Lagos
• January 18, 1987: Ivory Coast 1, Nigeria 0
• Game played at Abidjan
• January 12, 2002: Ivory Coast 1, Nigeria 1
• Game played a Abidjan

Fourth quarterfinal at Nelspruit's Mbombela Stadium:

Burkina Faso vs Togo 

1992 African Cup of Nations (Group 4 in qualifying round)

• September 2, 1990: Burkina Faso 2, Togo 0
• Game played in Ouagadougou
• April 21, 1991: Togo 1, Burkina Faso 0
• Game played in Lome

Friendlies:

• November 30, 1971: Togo 1, Burkina Faso 0
• Game played at Lome
• December 12, 1971: Burkina Faso 1, Togo 2
• Game played at Ouagadougou
• February 17, 1982: Togo 2, Burkina Faso 1
• Game played at Cotonou, Benin

Potential opponent for Ivory Coast: Ethiopia

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 Ethiopia

Ethiopia can finish as runners-up at best in its group. To do that, Ethiopia must defeat Nigeria and Zambia must either lose or draw against Burkina Faso. If that happens, Ethiopia will meet the Ivory Coast for the fourth time ever. 

While the other three meetings have been at AFCON, reach the Ethiopia has not faced the Ivory Coast in nearly 43 years. The previous three meetings are as follows:

1968 African Cup of Nations (first meeting in the group stage; second meeting in the third-place match)

• January 14, 1968: Ethiopia 1, Ivory Coast 0
• Game played at Haile Selassie Stadium in Addis Ababa
• January 21, 1968: Ivory Coast 1, Ethiopia 0
• Game played at Haile Selassie Stadium in Addis Ababa

1970 African Cup of Nations

• February 10, 1970: Ivory Coast 6, Ethiopia 1
• Game played at Municipal Stadium in Khartoum, Sudan

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

Potential opponent for Ivory Coast: Zambia

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 Zambia

A potential rematch of last year's AFCON final could come in the quarterfinals instead of the final at Johannesburg's Soccer City Stadium. Zambia would face the Ivory Coast in the quarterfinals if:

• Zambia wins against Burkina Faso AND Nigeria wins against Ethiopia AND Nigeria outscores Zambia.
• Zambia and Nigeria both tie their matches AND Zambia outscores Nigeria. 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.

These teams have meet four times at an AFCON tournament, and the results are as follows:

1974 African Cup of Nations (group stage)

• March 2, 1974: Zambia 1, Ivory Coast 0
• Game played at El-Malhalla Stadium in El-Malhalla El-Kubra, Egypt

1992 African Cup of Nations (quarterfinals)

• January 20, 1992: Ivory Coast 1, Zambia 0 (after extra time)
• Game played at Stade Leopold Senghor in Dakar, Senegal

1994 African Cup of Nations (group stage)

• March 31, 1994: Zambia 1, Ivory Coast 0
• Game played at Stade Olympique de Sousse in Sousse, Tunisia

2012 African Cup of Nations (final)

• February 12, 2012: Zambia 0, Ivory Coast 0 (after extra time, Zambia defeats Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalty shootout)
• Game played at Stade d'Angondje in Libreville, Gabon
• NOTE: Zambia's victory over the Ivory Coast came 19 years after a plane crash killed 30 people, including 18 players of the national team.

Potential opponent for Ivory Coast: Burkina Faso

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 Burkina Faso

Despite being in the drivers seat in Group C, Burkina Faso can still finish second in the group. Burkina Faso would play the Ivory Coast if:

• Burkina Faso ties its final match against Zambia AND Nigeria defeats Ethiopia AND Nigeria overtakes Burkina Faso on either goal difference or goals scored.
• Burkina Faso loses its match AND Nigeria either ties or loses against Ethiopia.

If either scenario happens, these teams will meet for the eighth time, with Burkina Faso never haven beaten the Ivory Coast. In addition to a 1982 friendly at Cotonou, Benin (which the teams played to a 1-1 draw), these two teams have met at qualifying for three major events:

Please note that Burkina Faso played as the Upper Volta until 1984.

1978 FIFA World Cup (first round playoff)

• September 4, 1976: Burkina Faso 1, Ivory Coast 1
• Game played at Ouagadougou
• September 26, 1976: Ivory Coast 2, Burkina Faso 0
• Game played at Abidjan

1978 African Cup of Nations (first round playoff)

• September 18, 1977: Burkina Faso 0, Ivory Coast 1
• Game played at Ouagadougou
• October 2, 1977: Ivory Coast 4, Burkina Faso 1
• Game played in Abijdan
• Although its results still count, for reasons unknown, the Ivory coast was disqualified from the African Cup of Nations. Interestingly enough, Burkina Faso qualified despite never having won a game: its next opponent, Mali, withdrew from qualifying.

2010 FIFA World Cup (third round group stage)

• June 20, 2009: Burkina Faso 2, Ivory Coast 3
• Game played at Stade du 4-A-oût in Ouagadougou
• September 5, 2009: Ivory Coast 5, Burkina Faso 0
• Game played at Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abijdan