In four days' time the shortlist for the BBC African Footballer of the year 2014 will be revealed. While those five names will be established superstars from the continent, there are also a number of excellent young players coming through the ranks - emerging talent who themselves may soon compete for the title.
Debutants The Gambia booked their place in the quarter-finals at the Africa Cup of Nations as Musa Barrow's goal gave them a famous 1:0 victory over Guinea.
Bologna forward Barrow collected a pass and slotted past Aly Keita from the centre of the box in the 71st minute.
Defender Ibrahima Conte had an equaliser ruled out for offside before The Gambia's Yusupha Njie was sent off.
Guinea struck the post in injury time before another shot was tipped onto the crossbar by Baboucarr Gaye.
It was a stunning save by Gaye to keep out the powerful strike by Jose Kante, which came immediately after Conte had rattled the left-hand upright from a narrow angle.
Even then, Guinea forward Morgan Guilavogui latched onto the rebound off the bar and had his follow-up attempt blocked by Pa Modou Jagne.
Kante headed over from the resulting corner and the Scorpions, the lowest-ranked side at the tournament, held on to win as Guinea centre-back Conte was also dismissed in injury time for a second booking.
The Gambia, who are 150th in the world, will now face Cameroon in the last eight on Saturday after the hosts saw off Comoros 2:1.