Who will join Senegal and Nigeria in the last four of CAN-2019? Answer Thursday, July 11 with the last two quarterfinals of the African Cup, opposing Côte d'Ivoire to Algeria and Madagascar to Tunisia.

Gala match between two continental powers

The Fennecs of Algeria and the Elephants of Côte d'Ivoire go through the competition in two diametrically opposed ways. On the one hand, Algerians crush everyone in their path: Kenya (2-0), Senegal (1-0), Tanzania (3-0) and Guinea (3-0) have made them fresh. This is the last team to count only victories to his credit in this CAN.

"Favorites, not favorites, it does not mean anything", tempered again the coach, Djamel Belmadi. "It's been a long time since we're here to realize what no one believes, we believe in it, it's free, it does not cost anything to be ambitious, even if the goals are very high, they may not be achieved, but we will do our best for that. "

Opposite, the Elephants walk instead on eggs since their entry in the running. Little domineering, Ivory Coast does not shine but remains dangerous: the Eagles of Mali know something since it took only about ten minutes of relaxation to cash a goal sending the men of Ibrahim Kamara in quarterfinals.

"At this level, every opportunity, every victory is important.There is no return match, you have to win to advance.If you have to play like that until the final, I take", justifies the Ivorian striker Wilfried Bony.

"We're competing, it's about playing seven games, we've played four, we've got three left, my mission was to qualify this team, to prepare a competitive team for the CAN-2021, what we're trying to do. to do some good, "advance coach Ibrahim Kamara. "In front of Algeria, we will play with our means," he said while his team could count on the return of his captain, Serge Aurier, injured in the match against Morocco.

Madagascar can believe it

This is the beautiful story of CAN-2019. Since the beginning of the competition, Madagascar is Tom Thumb. The Barea had to go through a preliminary round before snatching their qualifying for the first CAN in their history. And the Zebu did much more than figuration: 1st of their group after defeating Burundi and Nigeria, they also overcame the Leopards of the DR Congo at the end of the suspense during a shooting session in Paris. goal in the round of 16.

"Even though we were not very good in the game, we went for the victory to the courage We realized something big, and we know we will mark the story of 'Mada'", savor Nicolas Dupuis, the coach and great craftsman of this epic, interviewed by La Montagne.

The story can continue to be written against the Eagles of Carthage, unkind since the beginning of the competition and have had two days less recovery than their opponents.

"Tunisia is more player, and logically it suits us better than Ghana, which is very solid, physical ... And then, face a former glory of French football as Alain Giresse [the coach of Tunisia, Ed], it would be a real pleasure, "says the white sorcerer of Madagascar.

And Alain Giresse precisely proved that he was capable of the worst and the best in coaching. The best of this disciplinary measure against Khazri, left on the bench early in the round of 16 against Ghana - officially for physical glitches. The Stéphanois appeared remotivated and focused when he came into play and brought the goal of a heel of genius. The worst too, like when he preferred to concretize to save the 1-0 by pulling out his scorer and striker Khenissi to do between a central back, Bedoui ... guilty a few seconds after entering a goal against-his-camp who sentenced his team to prolonging prolongations.

But finally the best, with this change of goalkeeper at the last minute extra to anticipate the penalty shoot. A paying choice since it is Ben Mustapha who stops the shot, certainly not very supported by Caleb Ekuban, while Tunisian side everyone has managed his shot.

A seasoned coach in Africa, Giresse has not fully convinced the Tunisian public despite this qualification for the quarter-finals. Abused by supporters and the press since the entry into the lists of his Carthage Eagles, this time has the opportunity to take Tunisia in the last square of the competition since 2004.