With the teams going through to the semi-finals and as many sides exiting the competition, GOAL picks out the best and most underwhelming individual …
BackpagepixAfcon 2021
The quarter-finals concluded on Sunday night, with Senegal ending Equatorial Guinea’s journey in Cameroon.
With the last eight now over, which players flourished for their sides and who failed to deliver?
AdvertisementGetty ImagesToo Good: Karl Toko Ekambi
While Vincent Aboubakar had dominated headlines heading into Saturday’s clash with The Gambia, it was Toko Ekambi who flourished to win the game for the Indomitable Lions.
The Lyon attacker netted two second-half strikes to seal a 2-0 success and take the hosts into a mouth-watering semi-final meeting with seven-time winners Egypt.
His latest brace at the finals takes him to five goals, outscoring everyone but Aboubakar.
Getty ImagesToo Bad: Vincent Aboubakar
The tournament’s top scorer went into Cameroon’s last eight fixture seeking another strike to become the first player in the competition’s history to score in his team’s first five games.
However, Aboubakar’s finishing was far from perfect on the day, missing a series of opportunities to add to his six goals at Afcon 2021.
Undoubtedly, Toni Conceicao will hope his frontman returns to form when they face Egypt in the semis.
BackpagePix.Too Good: Mohamed Salah
Despite Morocco being the fancied side owing to their performances hitherto the quarters, Egypt picked up a 2-1 comeback victory over the Atlas Lions.
Without Salah, it is hard to see how the Pharaohs will have found a way after falling behind after Sofiane Boufal’s sixth-minute penalty.
The Liverpool superstar equalised eight minutes after half-time and set up substitute Trezeguet in the first half of extra time.
Salah has now been involved in all but one of Egypt’s four goals in Cameroon and they will look to him to get the better of the Indomitable Lions on Thursday.