Two teams who have recovered from shaky starts to the 2023 African Nations Championship will be aiming to move one step closer to glory on Saturday when Niger go toe to toe with Ghana.
Next up for the winners of this tie is a place in the last four, where one of Algeria or Ivory Coast awaits in the battle to reach the grand finale of this year's CHAN.
Match preview
Ghana wrapped up their group-stage campaign with a 3-1 thrashing of the Secretary Birds of Sudan at the Stadium Mohamed Hamlaoui last Thursday.
After going behind to Al-Gozoli Nooh's opener, Annor Walker's men it back through Konadu Yiadom, before further goals from Daniel Afriyie and Seidu Suraj completed the turnaround.
The Black Stars were due to take on Morocco on Sunday, but they have since been awarded three points due to the latter's non-participation at this year's event.
Consequently, Ghana have finished as runners-up in Group C with six points from three matches, three points adrift of Madagascar - one of only two teams still with a 100% CHAN record.
Awaiting the west Africans next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have lost each of the subsequent two meetings between the teams since coming out on top in the first encounter.
Niger secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Cameroon at the Miloud Hadefi Stadium on Tuesday to book their place in the knockout stages of the African Nations Championship.
Harouna Doula's men had their backs against the wall for the majority of the contest, but they held firm to remain alive in the game before Ousseini Badamassi's 69th-minute strike delivered three very crucial points.
That win saw the Dama Gazelle rack up four points from their two Group E outings to finish as group winners, albeit only a point clear of Cameroon.
Having already tied their best-ever finish at this level which came in the 2011 edition, Niger will be feeling confident of securing yet another feather in the cap.
Team News
Niger's Ousseni Badamassi will be pushing for a place in the starting lineup for this one, having come off the bench to good effect last time out.
Meanwhile, Abdoul Aziz Ibrahim is a doubt for Saturday's contest after the winger was substituted off with an injury problem against Cameroon.
Twenty-one-year-old Daniel Afriyie is suspended for Ghana here off the back of his sending-off in the dying embers of the victory over Sudan.
As a result, Seidu Suraj could feature right from the off for the first time in the tournament following two straight cameo appearances off the bench.
Niger possible starting lineup:
Djibo; Garba, Katkore, Souley, Adamou; Iboun, Aboubacar; Seyni, Moussa, Salissou; Hainikoye
Ghana possible starting lineup:
Danlad; Agyapong, Adomako, Yiadom, Dennis; Simba, Nsobila, Abagna; Attuquaye, Suraj, Kordzi
We say: Niger 0-1 Ghana
Ghana boast more experience at this level and will fancy themselves to get the job done. While we expect Niger to give them a run for their money, we are also tipping Ghana to carry the day, albeit by only a narrow margin.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adepoju Marvellous
