Africa Cup, a Soccer Roller Coaster of Thrills, Spills and Surprises

Tanzania’s scorer Simon Msuva, right, jumps a somersault after he scored the opening goal during the African Cup of Nations Group F soccer match between Zambia and Tanzania, at the Laurent Pokou stadium in San Pedro, Ivory Coast, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Soccer fans at the Africa Cup of Nations have been treated to exciting matches and plenty of drama in a roller coaster of thrills, spills and surprises so far.

Supporters are contributing to the spectacle from the stands with tireless dancing and eye-catching costumes as they cheer on their teams at the 34th edition of the biennial tournament. Associated Press photographers have been capturing the scenes in six stadiums in five cities across Ivory Coast since the opening game on Jan. 13. They’ve come to expect the unexpected.

Morocco – a favorite for many after its run to the World Cup semifinals – was knocked out Tuesday in a 2-0 loss to South Africa. It became just the latest big team to be eliminated while underdogs like Cape Verde have thrived in a tournament of upsets.

Both defending champion Senegal and seven-time champion Egypt were eliminated in penalty shootouts, while Ivory Coast’s improbable revival from an embarrassing group-stage collapse has resurrected the Elephants’ hopes of a third title. Franck Kessié scored the winning penalty in the shootout for the host nation to eliminate Senegal on Monday and set off unbridled celebrations in Yamoussoukro and beyond.

Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi scored his spot kick after Egypt counterpart Mohamed Abou Gabal missed in their penalty shootout. It sent the Leopards to the quarterfinals at the Pharaohs’ expense. The Egyptian soccer federation sacrificed a cow before the game but it didn’t change the team’s luck as Egypt – which lost star player Mohamed Salah to a hamstring injury – failed to win a single game at the tournament.

Former champions Cameroon, Ghana and Algeria have also been knocked out. Cameroon goalkeeper André Onana played just one game and made no saves despite rushing from Manchester United to make the Indomitable Lions’ opening game. Ghana looked set to reach the knockout stage but the Black Stars conceded two goals in injury time to finish their group with just two points.

Coaches have had a hard time at this Africa Cup. Ghana coach Chris Hughton and Ivory Coast coach Jean-Louis Gasset were both fired – the latter on the same day Ivory Coast clinched its place in the last 16.

Tempers flared at Morocco’s game with Congo, which ended in a huge melee involving players and coaching staff. But the general mood has been overwhelmingly joyful with enthusiastic fans contributing to a non-stop party in the stands and in the streets.

Mama Joy has been a prominent South Africa supporter, Senegal’s fans loudly supported the Lions of Teranga, and the Ivorians have not stopped celebrating since Kessié kept the home team’s hopes alive.

The quarterfinals start Friday. -AP

A fan of Ghana cheers prior to the start of the African Cup of Nations Group B soccer match between Mozambique and Ghana in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Monday, Jan.22, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Zambia’s Kennedy Musonda, left, and Tanzania’s Ibrahim Hamad challenge for the ball during the African Cup of Nations Group F soccer match between Zambia and Tanzania, at the Laurent Pokou stadium in San Pedro, Ivory Coast, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

DR Congo’s Gael Kakuta, left, and Morocco’s Selim Amallah challenge for the ball during the African Cup of Nations Group F soccer match between Morocco and DR Congo, at the Laurent Pokou stadium in San Pedro, Ivory Coast, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Referee Bouchra Karboubi signs for the VAR during the African Cup of Nations Group A soccer match between Guinea Bissau and Nigeria, at the Felix Houphouet Boigny stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

A fan of Ghana cheers prior to the start of the African Cup of Nations Group B soccer match between Mozambique and Ghana in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Monday, Jan.22, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Namibia’s Peter Shalulile, left, goes for the header with Mali’s Moussa Diarra, during the African Cup of Nations Group E soccer match between Namibia and Mali, at the Laurent Pokou Stadium in San Pedro, Ivory Coast, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Angola’s Gelson Dala, (10), heads to score the second goal during the African Cup of Nations Round of 16 soccer match between Angola and Namibia, at the Peace of Bouake stadium in Bouake, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Morocco’s Sofyan Amrabat controls the ball in the air during the African Cup of Nations Group F soccer match between Morocco and Tanzania at the Laurent Pokou stadium in San Pedro, Ivory Coast, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, left, leaves the field after sustaining an injury during the African Cup of Nations Group B soccer match between Egypt and Ghana in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Thursday, Jan.18, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Mali fans wait for the start of the African Cup of Nations Group E soccer match between Tunisia and Mali at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Ghana’s Mohammed Kudus, right, duels for the ball with Mozambique’s Nanana during the African Cup of Nations Group B soccer match between Mozambique and Ghana in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Monday, Jan.22, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Algerian soccer supporters watch on a giant screen the African Cup of Nations Group D soccer match between Algeria and Burkina Faso at the Peace of Bouake stadium in Bouake, Ivory Coast, Tuesday, Jan.23, 2024 in Algiers. (AP Photo/Fateh Guidoum)

Tanzania’s supporter cheers prior to the start of the African Cup of Nations Group F soccer match between Tanzania and DR Congo at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo, Ivory Coast, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Nigeria’s Calvin Bassey, right, challenges Cameroon’s Moumi Ngamaleu during the African Cup of Nations Round of 16 soccer match between Nigeria and Cameroon, at the Felix Houphouet Boigny stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

DR Congo players celebrate after goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi scored the winning goal in a penalty shootout winning 8-7 during the African Cup of Nations Round of 16 soccer match between Egypt and DR Congo, at the Laurent Pokou stadium in San Pedro, Ivory Coast, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Burkina Faso’s Issa Kabore controls the ball during the African Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between Mali and Burkina Faso, at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly stadium in Korhogo, Ivory Coast, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South Africa’s Evidence Makgopa, center, scores his sides first goal past Morocco’s goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, right, and Morocco’s Romain Saiss during the African Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between Morocco and South Africa, at the Laurent Pokou stadium in San Pédro, Ivory Coast, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Ivory Coast’s Franck Kessie, bottom, celebrates celebrate after defeating Senegal in a penalty shootout during their African Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between Senegal and Ivory Coast, at the Charles Konan Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Morocco’s Mohamed Chibi, left, jumps for the ball beside DR Congo’s Meschack Elia, right, during the African Cup of Nations Group F soccer match between Morocco and DR Congo, at the Laurent Pokou stadium in San Pedro, Ivory Coast, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

January 31, 2024