The continent's top ranked team Algeria must be rated favourite to win the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea after surviving a group of death for a place in the quarter-finals.
"Algeria are one of the most disciplined and tactically strong sides at Afcon," says Philani Mazibuko, a football analyst at South Africa's The Mercury newspaper in Durban.
"We haven't seen the best of them yet. They are picking up with each game. Wait and see. They are the team to beat."
Algeria beat South Africa 3-1 and Senegal 2-0, with a 1-0 defeat to Group C winners Ghana in-between, will play group D winners, Ivory Coast, on Sunday.
But an injury to star midfielder Yacine Brahimi, who was forced off after 72 minutes against Senegal, is a concern for the team. It is uncertain whether Brahimi will make Sunday's game.
"Brahimi works very hard for Algeria," says Mazibuko. "If he doesn't play it will be a big loss for Algerian. Still, they have the depth of players to carry them through."
Ivory Coast meanwhile, finished top of Group D after long distance strike by Max Gradel won the game against Cameroon 1-0 on Wednesday.
But Ivorian star Yaya Toure, who was named the African Footballer of the Year for the fourth time in a row earlier in January, is yet to reach the form he displayed at English champions Manchester City.
Coach Herve Renard had defended Toure's performance at the tournament, saying it is easy to work with players of his calibre.
"Toure has not fired form all cylinders and he really has not performed as well as he does for Manchester City," Mazibuko says.
"Ivory Coast will need him to pick up his game and lead from the front if they want to have a chance against Algeria."
Four time Afcon winners Ghana advanced thanks to a late 2-1 against South Africa, muchz the relief ofr their coach Avram Grant.
"It was called the 'Group of Death' but we were alive with our spirit and our fighting ability," the former Chelsea manager Avram Grant said in a television interview.
Ghana will meet the runners-up of Group D on Sunday. The second side will be decided with the drawing of lots on Thursday after Mali and Guinea played to a 1-1 draw in Mongomo to end tied on all tiebreakers.
In Group B players from Tunisia and the Democratic Republic of Congo celebrated together earlier this week after the sides drew 1-1 and secured a place in the last eight.
Esperance striker Ahmed Akaichi scored with a header for Tunisia at around 30 minutes into the game. He is the second player to score two goals in the tournament after Thievy Bifouma of Congo.
DR Congo equalised in the 65th minute with a strike by substitute Jeremy Bokila.
Tunisia meet hosts Equatorial Guinea, who finished second in Group A, while DR Congo face Group A winners Congo.
"The DR Congo need to start playing well in middle of the pack. Their players have not been good in supplying to strikers. If they want to make it through to the semis the coach will need to do a lot of work on his midfield," Mazibuko says.
