On 23 January, the first Last-16 matches of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations took place, in which two RPL players featured.

Burkina Faso 1-1 Gabon (7-6 penalty shootout)

The teams were level at the end of regular time. Burkina Faso had taken the lead through Bertrand Traore's 28th-minute goal before also finding themselves with a man advantage following Sidney Obissa’s sending off for Gabon. In added time Gabon hit back after Adam Guira's own goal. In extra-time, the teams still couldn’t be separated, leaving Burkina Faso to edge home in the penalty shootout 7-6.

Akhmat striker Mohamed Konate came on for Burkina Faso in the 81st minute and was booked, but then converted his spot-kick in the shootout. The forward was playing in his third match of the tournament.

Nigeria 0-1 Tunisia

Nigeria are the only participants in the Africa Cup of Nations to have won all three matches in the group stage, but they lost to Tunisia, who only qualified for the knockouts after finishing third in their group. The winner was scored by Youssef Msakni in the 47th minute, before Alex Iwobi was sent off for Nigeria in the 66th minute.

Rubin defender Montassar Talbi played his fourth full 90 minutes at the tournament for Tunisia. CSKA striker Chidera Ejuke did not feature for Nigeria, having previously appeared against Egypt (19 minutes) and Guinea-Bissau (56).

In the quarter-finals, Burkina Faso will face Tunisia on 29 January at 22:00 Moscow time.

The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations is taking place in Cameroon from 9 January to 6 February.