Algeria reigns supreme and is officially the best team in the group stage. In fact, Petkovic’s national team won 3-1 against Equatorial Guinea and closed group E not only with full points, but also with a goal difference of +6. The only other team with 9 points is Nigeria (in group C), but with a goal difference of +4. Burkina Faso passes as second in group E, having won 2-0 over Sudan, which still qualifies for the round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams. Many pairings are already certain (in order of the draw): Mali-Tunisia; Senegal-Sudan; Egypt-Benin, 1st group F-Burkina Faso; South Africa-2nd group F; Morocco-Tanzania; Nigeria-3rd group F; Algeria-DR Congo. Group F sees Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Mozambique competing, already certain of qualification, but not of positions, with Gabon eliminated.
