NELSPRUIT, South Africa (Reuters) – Togo have confounded conventional wisdom by reaching the last eight at the African Nations Cup despite chaotic preparations for the tournament.

The small west African country will meet Burkina Faso on Sunday having made it past the group phase for the first time in eight attempts.

NELSPRUIT, South Africa, Jan 31 (Reuters) – Togo have confounded conventional wisdom by reaching the last eight at the African Nations Cup despite chaotic preparations for the tournament.

The small west African country will meet Burkina Faso on Sunday having made it past the group phase for the first time in eight attempts.

NELSPRUIT, South Africa (Reuters) – Ivory Coast have emerged as clear favourites as the African Nations Cup enters its knockout stages but if past finals are anything to go by, the tournament remains ripe for more surprises.

Following 12 days of intense action across South Africa, half of the 16-team field – including defending champions Zambia – have been eliminated as the event’s recent tradition of unpredictability has continued.

NELSPRUIT, South Africa (Reuters) – Ivory Coast have emerged as clear favourites as the African Nations Cup enters its knockout stages but if past finals are anything to go by, the tournament remains ripe for more surprises.

Following 12 days of intense action across South Africa, half of the 16-team field – including defending champions Zambia – have been eliminated as the event’s recent tradition of unpredictability has continued.

NELSPRUIT, South Africa, Jan 31 (Reuters) – Ivory Coast have emerged as clear favourites as the African Nations Cup enters its knockout stages but if past finals are anything to go by, the tournament remains ripe for more surprises.

Following 12 days of intense action across South Africa, half of the 16-team field – including defending champions Zambia – have been eliminated as the event’s recent tradition of unpredictability has continued.

NELSPRUIT, South Africa (Reuters) – Togo took the last quarter-final place at the African Nations Cup to maintain the flow of outsiders into the last eight at the end of the group phase on Wednesday.

A 1-1 draw with Tunisia in Nelspruit ensured the point they needed to finish second behind the Ivory Coast in Group D and a first place in the last eight after failing in their seven previous attempts.

NELSPRUIT, South Africa, Jan 30 (Reuters) – Togo took the last quarter-final place at the African Nations Cup to maintain the flow of outsiders into the last eight at the end of the group phase on Wednesday.

A 1-1 draw with Tunisia in Nelspruit ensured the point they needed to finish second behind the Ivory Coast in Group D and a first place in the last eight after failing in their seven previous attempts.

NELSPRUIT, South Africa, Jan 30 (Reuters) – Togo advanced to the African Nations Cup quarter-finals after Tunisia squandered a late penalty in a controversial 1-1 draw on Wednesday in which the referee took centre stage.

It is the first time in eight attempts that the small west African country have made it past the group stages, but they had to hold on in a tension-filled conclusion to ensure the feat.

NELSPRUIT, South Africa (Reuters) – Deposed African champions Zambia believe qualification for the World Cup is still possible and plan to keep faith with their players rather than make drastic changes after their early elimination from the African Nations Cup.

Coach Herve Renard, who assumed responsibility for Tuesday’s failure as Zambia went out in the group phase, said Brazil 2014 remained the major challenge the side had set themselves and they felt they were well on course.

NELSPRUIT, South Africa, Jan 30 (Reuters) – Deposed African champions Zambia believe qualification for the World Cup is still possible and plan to keep faith with their players rather than make drastic changes after their early elimination from the African Nations Cup.

Coach Herve Renard, who assumed responsibility for Tuesday’s failure as Zambia went out in the group phase, said Brazil 2014 remained the major challenge the side had set themselves and they felt they were well on course.