The knockout stage of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations was the second and final stage of the competition, following the group stage. It began on 31 January with the round of 16 and ended on 8 February 2015 with the final held at the Estadio de Bata in Bata. A total of 8 teams (the top two teams from each group) advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination style tournament.
All match times are local, WAT (UTC+1).
Format In the knockout stage, except for the third place play-off, if a match was level at the end of 90 minutes of normal playing time, extra time was played (two periods of 15 minutes each). If still tied after extra time, the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. In the third place play-off, if the scores remained level after 90 minutes the match would go directly to a penalty shoot-out, without any extra time being played.
Qualified teams The top two placed teams from each of the four groups advanced to the knockout stage.
Group Winners Runners-up A B C D
Bracket
All times local, WAT (UTC+1).
Quarter-finals
Congo vs DR Congo Congo took the lead in the 55th minute, when Férébory Doré met Delvin N'Dinga's free kick to slot home. They increased the lead seven minutes later, when after they intercepted a DR Congo pass out of the defence, Thievy Bifouma scored from the rebound after Doré's shot was saved. DR Congo pulled a goal back in the 65th minute, when Dieumerci Mbokani converted from Yannick Bolasie's cross. The equalizer came ten minutes later when Jeremy Bokila scored from Cédric Makiadi's pass. DR Congo took the lead when Joël Kimwaki headed in Neeskens Kebano's free kick in the 81st minute, and completed the comeback after Mbokani converted his own rebound to score his second goal of the match in the first minute of injury time. This put them in the semi-finals for the first time since 1998.
GK 1 Christoffer MafoumbiRB 18Marvin BaudryCB 21Sagesse BabéléCB 4 Boris MoubhiboLB 6 Dimitri BissikiDM 8 Delvin N'Dinga RW 12Francis Litsingi AM 7 Prince Oniangué (c)LW 5 Bouka Moutou CF 13Thievy BifoumaCF 10Férébory Doré Substitutions:FW 19Dominique Malonga MF 14Césaire Gandzé FW 11Fabrice Ondama Manager: Claude Le Roy GK 1 Robert Kidiaba (c)RB 2 Issama MpekoCB 17Cédric MongonguCB 14Gabriel Zakuani LB 3 Jean KasusulaCM 22Chancel MbembaCM 6 Cédric Makiadi RW 19Jeremy BokilaAM 18Cedrick Mabwati LW 11Yannick BolasieCF 9 Dieumerci MbokaniSubstitutions:DF 15Joël Kimwaki MF 10Neeskens Kebano MF 5 Nelson Munganga Manager:Florent Ibengé Man of the Match: Yannick Bolasie (DR Congo)
Assistant referees: Djibril Camara (Senegal) El Hadji Malick Samba (Senegal) Fourth official: Malang Diedhiou (Senegal)
Tunisia vs Equatorial Guinea Tunisia took the lead in the 70th minute, when Ahmed Akaïchi flicked in Hamza Mathlouthi's cross from the right. Equatorial Guinea scored the equalizer in the third minute of injury time through Javier Balboa's penalty, which was awarded after Hamza Mathlouthi was ruled to have fouled Iván Bolado. The match went to extra time, and Balboa scored the winning goal in the 102nd minute with a direct free kick, sending the hosts to their first ever semi-finals. The match had witnessed controversies regarding the Mauritian referee's bias refereeing in favor to the host nation, including the controversial penalty in the final minutes, resulting with Tunisian players attacking him in the end of the game. CAF decided to ban the referee for life as for the result.
GK 16Aymen MathlouthiRB 17Hamza MathlouthiCB 3 Aymen AbdennourCB 2 Syam Ben YoussefLB 12Ali MaâloulCM 20Mohamed Ali Yacoubi CM 6 Hocine Ragued RW 19Ahmed Akaïchi AM 13Ferjani Sassi LW 9 Yassine Chikhaoui (c)CF 18Wahbi Khazri Substitutions:MF 15Mohamed Ali Manser FW 11Amine Chermiti MF 7 Youssef Msakni Manager: Georges Leekens GK 1 Felipe OvonoRB 8 Randy CB 5 Diosdado MbeleCB 4 RuiLB 16Sipo RM 14KikeCM 18Viera EllongCM 21Iván ZarandonaLM 11Javier BalboaCF 10Emilio Nsue (c)CF 9 Raúl Fabiani Substitutions:FW 15Ibán FW 12Iván Bolado MF 7 Rubén Belima Manager: Esteban Becker Man of the Match: Javier Balboa (Equatorial Guinea)
Assistant referees: Peter Edibe (Nigeria) Jerson dos Santos (Angola) Fourth official: Koman Coulibaly (Mali)
Ghana vs Guinea Ghana took the lead in the 4th minute, after André Ayew back-heeled the ball for Christian Atsu to convert from close range. Ghana increased the lead in the 44th minute, as Kwesi Appiah intercepted a missed pass from the Guinea defence to score. Atsu scored his second goal of the match in the 61st minute, when he received the ball from Mubarak Wakaso on the right flank, cut inside and curled the ball into the net. Guinea goalkeeper Naby Yattara was sent off in the fourth minute of injury time for bringing down Asamoah Gyan outside the penalty box. Ghana's win sent them to the semi-finals for the fifth consecutive tournament.
GK 1 Brimah RazakRB 23Harrison AffulCB 21John BoyeCB 19Jonathan MensahLB 17Baba RahmanDM 6 Afriyie Acquah RW 7 Christian Atsu AM 11Mubarak WakasoLW 10André AyewCF 3 Asamoah Gyan (c)CF 2Kwesi AppiahSubstitutions:MF 22Frank Acheampong MF 13Mohammed Rabiu Manager: Avram Grant GK 1 Naby Yattara RB 13Abdoulaye CisséCB 20Baissama SankohCB 5 Fodé Camara LB 23Djibril Tamsir Paye DM 17Boubacar Fofana CM 12Ibrahima ContéCM 10Kévin Constant RW 8 Ibrahima Traoré (c)LW 7 Abdoul Camara CF 11Idrissa Sylla Substitutions:FW 2 Mohamed Yattara MF 15Naby Keïta FW 19François Kamano Manager: Michel Dussuyer Man of the Match: Kwesi Appiah (Ghana)
Assistant referees: Evarist Menkouande (Cameroon) Ali Waleed Ahmed (Sudan) Fourth official: Hamada Nampiandraza (Madagascar)
Ivory Coast vs Algeria Ivory Coast took the lead in the 26th minute, when Wilfried Bony headed in Max Gradel's cross. Algeria equalized in the 51st minute, after Riyad Mahrez passed to Hillal Soudani to score. Bony scored his second goal of the match in the 68th minute with another header, this time from Yaya Touré's free kick. Ivory Coast sealed the win in the fourth minute of injury time, as Tallo Gadji set up Gervinho in a fast break, and they qualified for the semi-finals for the fourth time in six tournaments.
GK 16Sylvain GbohouoCB 17Serge AurierCB 22Wilfried KanonCB 4 Kolo TouréRWB21Eric BaillyLWB5 Siaka Tiéné CM 20Serey DiéCM 19Yaya Touré (c)CM 15Max GradelCF 12Wilfried Bony CF 10GervinhoSubstitutions:MF 6 Cheick Doukouré FW 11Tallo Gadji Manager: Hervé Renard GK 23Raïs M'BolhiRB 3 Faouzi GhoulamCB 2 Madjid Bougherra (c)CB 20Aïssa MandiLB 12Carl MedjaniDM 14Nabil Bentaleb RM 19Saphir Taïder LM 11Yacine BrahimiAM 10Sofiane FeghouliCF 7 Riyad Mahrez CF 15Hillal Soudani Substitutions:FW 9Ishak Belfodil FW 13Islam Slimani Manager: Christian Gourcuff
Man of the Match: Wilfried Bony (Ivory Coast)
Assistant referees: Jean-Claude Birumushasu (Burundi) Aboubacar Doumbouya (Guinea) Fourth official: Ali Lemghaifry (Mauritania)
Semi-finals
DR Congo vs Ivory Coast Ivory Coast took the lead in the 20th minute, when Yaya Touré slammed home a pass from Wilfried Bony. DR Congo equalized four minutes later through Dieumerci Mbokani's penalty, awarded for Eric Bailly's handball. Ivory Coast retook the lead in the 41st minute, as Bony set up Gervinho to score. Wilfried Kanon sealed the win in the 68th minute, as he scored from the rebound after Serge Aurier's header was saved. The win put the Ivorians into their fourth Africa Cup of Nations final.
GK 1 Robert Kidiaba (c)RB 2 Issama MpekoCB 15Joël KimwakiCB 14Gabriel ZakuaniLB 3 Jean Kasusula CM 22Chancel MbembaCM 6 Cédric Makiadi RW 19Jeremy BokilaAM 18Cedrick Mabwati LW 11Yannick BolasieCF 9 Dieumerci Mbokani Substitutions:FW 13Junior Kabananga MF 10Neeskens Kebano FW 21Firmin Ndombe Mubele Manager:Florent Ibengé GK 16Sylvain GbohouoRB 17Serge Aurier CB 21Eric BaillyCB 4 Kolo TouréLB 22Wilfried Kanon CM 20Serey Dié CM 19Yaya Touré (c) RW 15Max Gradel LW 5 Siaka Tiéné CF 12Wilfried Bony CF 10GervinhoSubstitutions:FW 8 Salomon Kalou DF 2 Ousmane Viera FW 18Lacina Traoré Manager: Hervé Renard
Man of the Match: Gervinho (Ivory Coast)
Assistant referees: Evarist Menkouande (Cameroon) Zakhele Siwela (South Africa) Fourth official: Bernard Camille (Seychelles)
Ghana vs Equatorial Guinea Ghana took the lead in the 42nd minute through Jordan Ayew's penalty, awarded after Kwesi Appiah was fouled by Felipe Ovono. In the first minute of first half injury time, Mubarak Wakaso finished Christian Atsu's pass in a counter-attack to double Ghana's lead. Ghana's third goal was scored by André Ayew from a cross by Appiah in the 75th minute. The win put the Ghanaians into a record ninth Africa Cup of Nations final.
Crowd disturbances began after Ghana's first goal, culminating after the third in a 40-minute stoppage while security forces corralled the Ghanaian section from the rest of the crowd. The hosts were fined US$100,000 by the CAF.
GK 1 Brimah RazakRB 23Harrison Afful CB 21John BoyeCB 19Jonathan MensahLB 17Baba RahmanCM 6 Afriyie Acquah CM 11Mubarak Wakaso RW 7 Christian AtsuAM 9 Jordan AyewLW 10André Ayew (c) CF 2 Kwesi AppiahSubstitutions:MF 8 Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu MF 22Frank Acheampong Manager: Avram Grant GK 1 Felipe Ovono RB 2 Dani Evuy CB 5 Diosdado MbeleCB 4 RuiLB 7 Rubén BelimaCM 21Iván Zarandona CM 18Viera EllongRW 14KikeLW 11Javier BalboaCF 15Ibán CF 10Emilio Nsue (c)Substitutions:FW 9 Raúl Fabiani DF 16Sipo DF 22Pablo Ganet Manager: Esteban Becker
Man of the Match: Christian Atsu (Ghana)
Assistant referees: Albdelhak Etchiali (Algeria) Jerson Emiliano Dos Santos (Angola) Fourth official: Mehdi Abid Charef (Algeria)
Third place play-off After a goalless 90 minutes, the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out (no extra time was played as per regulations). Equatorial Guinea missed their first and second penalties by Javier Balboa and Raúl Fabiani, while DR Congo converted all four of their kicks, giving them their best finish in the Africa Cup of Nations since 1998 when they also finished third, while the fourth-placed finish for the hosts were still their best ever in the Africa Cup of Nations.
GK 1 Robert Kidiaba (c)RB 2 Issama MpekoCB 17Cédric MongonguCB 14Gabriel ZakuaniLB 3 Jean KasusulaRM 18Cedrick Mabwati CM 22Chancel MbembaCM 6 Cédric Makiadi LM 11Yannick BolasieAM 8 Hervé Kage CF 19Jeremy Bokila Substitutions:FW 9 Dieumerci Mbokani MF 20Lema Mabidi FW 13Junior Kabananga Manager:Florent Ibengé GK 1 Felipe OvonoRB 8 RandyCB 2Dani EvuyCB 4RuiLB 16SipoRM 14Kike CM 21Iván Zarandona CM 6 Juvenal (c)LM 7 Rubén Belima CF 10Emilio NsueCF 11Javier BalboaSubstitutions:DF 20Miguel Ángel MF 18Viera Ellong FW 9 Raúl Fabiani Manager: Esteban Becker Man of the Match: Robert Kidiaba (DR Congo)
Assistant referees: Peter Edibe (Nigeria) Jean-Claude Birumushahu (Burundi) Fourth official: Malang Diedhiou (Senegal)
Final
After a goalless 120 minutes (regulation and extra time), the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out. Ivory Coast missed their first and second penalties by Wilfried Bony and Tallo Gadji, while Ghana missed their third and fourth penalties by Afriyie Acquah and Frank Acheampong. Both teams converted their kicks in the fifth to tenth rounds, and in the eleventh round, Ivorian goalkeeper Boubacar Barry saved from his counterpart Brimah Razak, diving to his left to push the ball around the post. He then scored his own penalty shooting to the right of the net. Ivory Coast won their second title and their first since 1992, where they also defeated Ghana in the final after a penalty shoot-out, while Ghana lost their third straight Africa Cup of Nations final after their last triumph in 1982.
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