Sarr's Senegal learn round of 16 opponents

Pape Matar Sarr's Senegal now know their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 opponents as they continue the defence of their title.

Winners of the tournament for the first time in 2022, following the conclusion of the group stages at AFCON on Wednesday evening, Pape's nation know they will now face host nation Ivory Coast in the first round of the knockout stage.

Senegal recorded a perfect run in the group stage, winning each of their three matches in Group C - 3-0 vs Gambia, 3-1 vs Cameroon and 2-0 vs Guinea. They are the only side in the tournament who maintain a 100 per cent record at this stage.

Ivory Coast, on the other hand, endured a less than ideal group stage as they picked up just three points in Group A, winning one and losing two, including a 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea, as they finished as one of the best third place finishers to secure a place in the knockout stages.

The two nations will now face each other on Monday 29 January (kick-off 8pm UK). And, if Pape's nation advance from that tie, and Yves' Mali take victory in their round of 16 tie, our two men at AFCON will face each other in the quarter-finals on Saturday 3 February.