This is going to be the first time since 1988 that lots will be drawn to determine which nation qualifier to the knockout stage of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Mali and Guinea drew one all in their three group games, making them finish on the same number of points, goals scored and goals conceded, hence the need to break the tie through the drawing of lots, which is the last tie breaking exercise, according to the competition’s rules.

The nation that luck would smile on will face the Black Stars in the quarter finals of the AFCON at Malabo on Sunday.

What the statistics say between Ghana and Guinea

-Ghana are unbeaten in their 5 games against Guinea in the AFCON, winning 3 and drawing 2. The latest AFCON game between them ended one all in 2012.

-These sides have met 25 times, with the Black Stars winning 12, losing 4 and drawing 9 against the Syli Nationale of Guinea.

-Guinea have won 2, lost 6 and drawn 4 of their 12 competitive games with Ghana.

-They were both drawn in group E of the 2015 AFCON qualifiers and Ghana had the better part of Guinea, drawing 1-1 in Morocco, a neutral ground and won 3-1 in Ghana.

How is the statistics like between Ghana and Mali

-These two sides have had 19 encounters in all competitions, with Ghana winning 10, losing 3 and drawing 6.

-In competitive games Ghana have won 4, lost 3 and drawn 1 against Mali.

-The Eagles and the Black Stars have won 2 each in their 4 AFCON games, aside qualifiers. Ghana won the two group games in 2012 and 2013, while Mali also emerged winners of the two third place games in 2012 and 2013.

Ghana’s quarter finals AFCON performance as compared to Mali/Guinea

Ghana

-Ghana have never lost a quarter-final game to non-former champions of the AFCON, beating Angola in 2010 and Cape Verde in 2013. Can Mali become the first to do so?

-In all, Ghana have played in 9 quarters, since its introduction in 1992, winning 6 and losing 3

-However they have won the last 4 quarter finals in the AFCON, which is the best among the nations competing in the 2015 AFCON (beat Nigeria in 2008, Angola in 2010, Tunisia in 2012 and Cape Verde in 2013).

Guinea

-The Syli Nationale have lost all their 3 previous games in the quarter finals of the African Cup of Nations.

-The most recent AFCON quarter-final game for the Guineans was a 0-5 thrashing by the Elephants of Côte d'Ivoire in 2008.

-Coincidentally all their three quarter-final games in the AFCON were against West African sides and Ghana is no exception. (Lost 1-2 to Mali in 2004, before losing 2-3 to Senegal in 2006 and finally lost 0-5 to Côte d'Ivoire

Mali

-The Eagles are yet to lose a quarter-final game, since its introduction in 1992, winning 3 and drawing 2, which they subsequently won on penalties to book their ticket to the semi finals.

-This means any time Mali reach the quarters, they eventually progress to the semi finals.

-Mali last AFCON quarter final game ended one all against 2013 AFCON host, South Africa, but won 3-1 through penalty shootout.