# 2015 Africa Cup of Nations knockout stage

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 | Congo | Equatorial Guinea |
| B | Tunisia | DR Congo |
| C | Ghana | Algeria |
| D | Ivory Coast | Guinea |

## Bracket

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | | Final | Final |
| 31 January – Bata | 31 January – Bata | | | |
| Congo | 2 | | | |
| Congo | 2 | 4 February – Bata | 4 February – Bata | | |
| DR Congo | 4 | 4 February – Bata | 4 February – Bata | |
| DR Congo | 4 | DR Congo | 1 | |
| 1 February – Malabo | 1 February – Malabo | | DR Congo | 1 | |
| 1 February – Malabo | 1 February – Malabo | Ivory Coast | 3 | |
| Ivory Coast | 3 | Ivory Coast | 3 | |
| Ivory Coast | 3 | | | | 8 February – Bata | 8 February – Bata |
| Algeria | 1 | | | | 8 February – Bata | 8 February – Bata |
| Algeria | 1 | | | | Ivory Coast (p) | 0 (9) |
| 1 February – Malabo | 1 February – Malabo | | | | | Ivory Coast (p) | 0 (9) |
| 1 February – Malabo | 1 February – Malabo | | | | Ghana | 0 (8) |
| Ghana | 3 | | | | Ghana | 0 (8) |
| Ghana | 3 | 5 February – Malabo | 5 February – Malabo | | | |
| Guinea | 0 | 5 February – Malabo | 5 February – Malabo | | | |
| Guinea | 0 | Ghana | 3 | | | |
| 31 January – Bata | 31 January – Bata | | Ghana | 3 | | | |
| 31 January – Bata | 31 January – Bata | Equatorial Guinea | 0 | | Third place play-off | Third place play-off |
| Tunisia | 1 | Equatorial Guinea | 0 | | Third place play-off | Third place play-off |
| Tunisia | 1 | | | | 7 February – Malabo | 7 February – Malabo |
| Equatorial Guinea (a.e.t.) | 2 | | | | 7 February – Malabo | 7 February – Malabo |
| Equatorial Guinea (a.e.t.) | 2 | | | | DR Congo (p) | 0 (4) |
| | | | | | Equatorial Guinea | 0 (2) |
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.
| Congo | DR Congo |
| GK | 1 | Christoffer Mafoumbi |
| RB | 18 | Marvin Baudry |
| CB | 21 | Sagesse Babélé |
| CB | 4 | Boris Moubhibo |
| LB | 6 | Dimitri Bissiki |
| DM | 8 | Delvin N'Dinga | 83' |
| RW | 12 | Francis Litsingi | | 84' |
| AM | 7 | Prince Oniangué (c) |
| LW | 5 | Bouka Moutou | | 84' |
| CF | 13 | Thievy Bifouma |
| CF | 10 | Férébory Doré | | 76' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 19 | Dominique Malonga | | 76' |
| MF | 14 | Césaire Gandzé | | 84' |
| FW | 11 | Fabrice Ondama | | 84' |
| Manager: ||
| Claude Le Roy ||
| GK | 1 | Robert Kidiaba (c) |
| RB | 2 | Issama Mpeko |
| CB | 17 | Cédric Mongongu |
| CB | 14 | Gabriel Zakuani | | 50' |
| LB | 3 | Jean Kasusula |
| CM | 22 | Chancel Mbemba |
| CM | 6 | Cédric Makiadi | 40' | 89' |
| RW | 19 | Jeremy Bokila |
| AM | 18 | Cedrick Mabwati | | 66' |
| LW | 11 | Yannick Bolasie |
| CF | 9 | Dieumerci Mbokani |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 15 | Joël Kimwaki | | 50' |
| MF | 10 | Neeskens Kebano | | 66' |
| MF | 5 | Nelson Munganga | | 89' |
| 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.
| Tunisia | Equatorial Guinea |
| GK | 16 | Aymen Mathlouthi |
| RB | 17 | Hamza Mathlouthi |
| CB | 3 | Aymen Abdennour |
| CB | 2 | Syam Ben Youssef |
| LB | 12 | Ali Maâloul |
| CM | 20 | Mohamed Ali Yacoubi | 63' | 104' |
| CM | 6 | Hocine Ragued | 9' |
| RW | 19 | Ahmed Akaïchi | 66' | 85' |
| AM | 13 | Ferjani Sassi | 90+6' |
| LW | 9 | Yassine Chikhaoui (c) |
| CF | 18 | Wahbi Khazri | | 85' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 15 | Mohamed Ali Manser | | 85' |
| FW | 11 | Amine Chermiti | 86' | 85' |
| MF | 7 | Youssef Msakni | | 104' |
| Manager: ||
| Georges Leekens ||
| GK | 1 | Felipe Ovono |
| RB | 8 | Randy | | 80' |
| CB | 5 | Diosdado Mbele |
| CB | 4 | Rui |
| LB | 16 | Sipo | | 86' |
| RM | 14 | Kike |
| CM | 18 | Viera Ellong |
| CM | 21 | Iván Zarandona |
| LM | 11 | Javier Balboa |
| CF | 10 | Emilio Nsue (c) |
| CF | 9 | Raúl Fabiani | | 61' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 15 | Ibán | 90+6' | 61' |
| FW | 12 | Iván Bolado | | 80' |
| MF | 7 | Rubén Belima | | 86' |
| 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.
| Ghana | Guinea |
| GK | 1 | Brimah Razak |
| RB | 23 | Harrison Afful |
| CB | 21 | John Boye |
| CB | 19 | Jonathan Mensah |
| LB | 17 | Baba Rahman |
| DM | 6 | Afriyie Acquah | 86' |
| RW | 7 | Christian Atsu | 79' |
| AM | 11 | Mubarak Wakaso |
| LW | 10 | André Ayew |
| CF | 3 | Asamoah Gyan (c) |
| CF | 2 | Kwesi Appiah |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 22 | Frank Acheampong | 79' |
| MF | 13 | Mohammed Rabiu | 86' |
| Manager: ||
| Avram Grant ||
| GK | 1 | Naby Yattara | 33' 90+4' |
| RB | 13 | Abdoulaye Cissé |
| CB | 20 | Baissama Sankoh |
| CB | 5 | Fodé Camara | 49' |
| LB | 23 | Djibril Tamsir Paye | 90' |
| DM | 17 | Boubacar Fofana | 70' |
| CM | 12 | Ibrahima Conté |
| CM | 10 | Kévin Constant | 21' | 56' |
| RW | 8 | Ibrahima Traoré (c) |
| LW | 7 | Abdoul Camara | | 81' |
| CF | 11 | Idrissa Sylla | | 45' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 2 | Mohamed Yattara | | 45' |
| MF | 15 | Naby Keïta | | 56' |
| FW | 19 | François Kamano | | 81' |
| 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.
| Ivory Coast | Algeria |
| GK | 16 | Sylvain Gbohouo |
| CB | 17 | Serge Aurier |
| CB | 22 | Wilfried Kanon |
| CB | 4 | Kolo Touré |
| RWB | 21 | Eric Bailly |
| LWB | 5 | Siaka Tiéné | 67' |
| CM | 20 | Serey Dié |
| CM | 19 | Yaya Touré (c) |
| CM | 15 | Max Gradel |
| CF | 12 | Wilfried Bony | 90+1' |
| CF | 10 | Gervinho |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 6 | Cheick Doukouré | 67' |
| FW | 11 | Tallo Gadji | 90+1' |
| Manager: ||
| Hervé Renard ||
| GK | 23 | Raïs M'Bolhi |
| RB | 3 | Faouzi Ghoulam |
| CB | 2 | Madjid Bougherra (c) |
| CB | 20 | Aïssa Mandi |
| LB | 12 | Carl Medjani |
| DM | 14 | Nabil Bentaleb | 78' |
| RM | 19 | Saphir Taïder | 90' |
| LM | 11 | Yacine Brahimi |
| AM | 10 | Sofiane Feghouli |
| CF | 7 | Riyad Mahrez | | 72' |
| CF | 15 | Hillal Soudani | | 72' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 9 | Ishak Belfodil | | 72' |
| FW | 13 | Islam Slimani | | 72' |
| 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.
| DR Congo | Ivory Coast |
| GK | 1 | Robert Kidiaba (c) |
| RB | 2 | Issama Mpeko |
| CB | 15 | Joël Kimwaki |
| CB | 14 | Gabriel Zakuani |
| LB | 3 | Jean Kasusula | 67' |
| CM | 22 | Chancel Mbemba |
| CM | 6 | Cédric Makiadi | | 79' |
| RW | 19 | Jeremy Bokila |
| AM | 18 | Cedrick Mabwati | | 69' |
| LW | 11 | Yannick Bolasie |
| CF | 9 | Dieumerci Mbokani | | 61' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 13 | Junior Kabananga | 71' | 61' |
| MF | 10 | Neeskens Kebano | | 69' |
| FW | 21 | Firmin Ndombe Mubele | | 79' |
| Manager: ||
| Florent Ibengé ||
| GK | 16 | Sylvain Gbohouo |
| RB | 17 | Serge Aurier | 76' |
| CB | 21 | Eric Bailly |
| CB | 4 | Kolo Touré |
| LB | 22 | Wilfried Kanon | 26' |
| CM | 20 | Serey Dié | 70' |
| CM | 19 | Yaya Touré (c) | 28' |
| RW | 15 | Max Gradel | | 62' |
| LW | 5 | Siaka Tiéné | | 72' |
| CF | 12 | Wilfried Bony | | 90+2' |
| CF | 10 | Gervinho |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 8 | Salomon Kalou | | 62' |
| DF | 2 | Ousmane Viera | | 72' |
| FW | 18 | Lacina Traoré | | 90+2' |
| 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.
| Ghana | Equatorial Guinea |
| GK | 1 | Brimah Razak |
| RB | 23 | Harrison Afful | 44' |
| CB | 21 | John Boye |
| CB | 19 | Jonathan Mensah |
| LB | 17 | Baba Rahman |
| CM | 6 | Afriyie Acquah | 68' |
| CM | 11 | Mubarak Wakaso | 18' | 76' |
| RW | 7 | Christian Atsu |
| AM | 9 | Jordan Ayew |
| LW | 10 | André Ayew (c) | 66' | 82' |
| CF | 2 | Kwesi Appiah |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 8 | Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu | | 76' |
| MF | 22 | Frank Acheampong | | 82' |
| Manager: ||
| Avram Grant ||
| GK | 1 | Felipe Ovono | 41' |
| RB | 2 | Dani Evuy | 37' | 58' |
| CB | 5 | Diosdado Mbele |
| CB | 4 | Rui |
| LB | 7 | Rubén Belima |
| CM | 21 | Iván Zarandona | | 82' |
| CM | 18 | Viera Ellong |
| RW | 14 | Kike |
| LW | 11 | Javier Balboa |
| CF | 15 | Ibán | 68' | 74' |
| CF | 10 | Emilio Nsue (c) |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 9 | Raúl Fabiani | | 58' |
| DF | 16 | Sipo | | 74' |
| DF | 22 | Pablo Ganet | | 82' |
| 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.
| DR Congo | Equatorial Guinea |
| GK | 1 | Robert Kidiaba (c) |
| RB | 2 | Issama Mpeko |
| CB | 17 | Cédric Mongongu |
| CB | 14 | Gabriel Zakuani |
| LB | 3 | Jean Kasusula |
| RM | 18 | Cedrick Mabwati | 87' |
| CM | 22 | Chancel Mbemba |
| CM | 6 | Cédric Makiadi | 51' | 72' |
| LM | 11 | Yannick Bolasie |
| AM | 8 | Hervé Kage | | 46' |
| CF | 19 | Jeremy Bokila | | 74' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 9 | Dieumerci Mbokani | | 46' |
| MF | 20 | Lema Mabidi | | 72' |
| FW | 13 | Junior Kabananga | | 74' |
| Manager: ||
| Florent Ibengé ||
| GK | 1 | Felipe Ovono |
| RB | 8 | Randy |
| CB | 2 | Dani Evuy |
| CB | 4 | Rui |
| LB | 16 | Sipo |
| RM | 14 | Kike | 46' |
| CM | 21 | Iván Zarandona | 46' |
| CM | 6 | Juvenal (c) |
| LM | 7 | Rubén Belima | 85' |
| CF | 10 | Emilio Nsue |
| CF | 11 | Javier Balboa |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 20 | Miguel Ángel | 46' |
| MF | 18 | Viera Ellong | 46' |
| FW | 9 | Raúl Fabiani | 85' |
| 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.

### Details

| Ivory Coast | Ghana |
| GK | 1 | Boubacar Barry |
| CB | 21 | Eric Bailly | 105+1' |
| CB | 4 | Kolo Touré |
| CB | 22 | Wilfried Kanon | 87' |
| RM | 17 | Serge Aurier |
| CM | 20 | Serey Dié | 14' |
| CM | 19 | Yaya Touré (c) |
| LM | 5 | Siaka Tiéné | 57' | 116' |
| RF | 15 | Max Gradel | | 67' |
| CF | 12 | Wilfried Bony |
| LF | 10 | Gervinho | | 120+2' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 7 | Seydou Doumbia | | 67' |
| FW | 8 | Salomon Kalou | | 116' |
| FW | 11 | Tallo Gadji | | 120+2' |
| Manager: ||
| Hervé Renard ||
| GK | 1 | Brimah Razak |
| RB | 23 | Harrison Afful |
| CB | 21 | John Boye |
| CB | 19 | Jonathan Mensah |
| LB | 17 | Baba Rahman |
| CM | 11 | Mubarak Wakaso |
| CM | 6 | Afriyie Acquah |
| RW | 7 | Christian Atsu | 116' |
| AM | 2 | Kwesi Appiah | 99' |
| LW | 10 | André Ayew |
| CF | 3 | Asamoah Gyan (c) | 120+1' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 9 | Jordan Ayew | 99' |
| FW | 22 | Frank Acheampong | 116' |
| MF | 8 | Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu | 120+1' |
| Manager: ||
| Avram Grant ||
* Man of the Match:
* Afriyie Acquah (Ghana)
* Assistant referees:
* Djibril Camara (Senegal)
* Ali Waleed Ahmed (Sudan)
* Fourth official:
* Jacob Bolam (Zambia)