AFCON 2023: 5 shocking events that happened during group stage

This edition of AFCON witnessed a fascinating trend in the number of goals scored during the group stages. 

Compared to recent editions, the tournament saw an unexpected change in goal-scoring, which either marked a shift in team strategies or highlighted the evolving nature of African football. 

The change in goal-scoring patterns was a point of discussion, reflecting on either defensive solidity or attacking prowess among the teams.

The AFCON 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast has produced a total of 89 goals from 36 matches in the group stage.

In a surprising turn of events, three national teams decided to part ways with their coaches immediately following the group stages. 

This decision underscored the high expectations and pressure in international football, especially in a prestigious tournament like AFCON. 

The sacking of coaches so early in the tournament was indicative of the cut-throat nature of modern football where results often dictate the fate of managers.

The first head coach to be sacked was Chris Hughton, who took Ghana to the competition. This follows the early exit of the Black Stars in the group stages. 

Hosts, Cote d'Ivoire also fired Coach Jean-Louis Gasset midway through the tournament after struggling to make it out of the group stage.

Another coach who is out of a job is Djamel Belmadi. Algeria decided to part ways with Belmadi after they finished bottom of their group.

One of the biggest shocks of the tournament was Equatorial Guinea's astounding 4-0 victory over the host nation. 

This result sent shockwaves throughout the tournament, as it defied all odds and predictions. The host nation's defeat in such a decisive manner was a testament to Equatorial Guinea's strategic prowess and footballing capability.

Equatorial Guinea's performance was not just surprising in terms of results but also in their efficiency in front of goal. 

Scoring nine goals from an Expected Goals (xG) tally of just 4.0, they recorded the highest xG overperformance of any side in the group stage of the 2023 edition as reported by Opta on X.

This statistic was indicative of their clinical finishing and perhaps a bit of luck, making their games a thrilling watch for neutral fans.

Egypt and DR Congo have joined the historical AFCON record book by being one of the teams to qualify for the next round without winning a single group stage game.

In previous AFCON tournaments, only four nations managed to advance to the knockout stages without winning a single game in their group - a scenario unseen since the current format was adopted in 1996 as reported by Opta on X.

This outcome highlighted the competitive nature of the tournament, where even teams that struggled to secure a win could still pose a threat in the knockout stages.

The AFCON 2023 group stage was indeed filled with unexpected twists and turns, setting the stage for an exciting and unpredictable knockout phase.