Following an enthralling Women's Africa Cup of Nations group stage, we've reached the business end of the continental football showpiece, with eight quarterfinalists set to become four across this weekend's fixtures.
As well as a place in the semifinal, there's also the small matter of World Cup qualification to be settled; each of these quarterfinals doubles up as a qualifier for next year's tournament in Brazil, with each of the four winners guaranteeing their place at the 2027 showpiece.
No one has looked imperious so far; Morocco dropped points in the group stage, South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana each lost their opener, Zambia are already out, while unlikely contenders like Ivory Coast and Malawi have emerged from the pack.
Will the WAFCON throw up any more surprises this weekend, or will it be a return to form for the continent's traditional heavyweights? Here are ESPN's Women's Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal predictions.
Ivory Coast vs Algeria
Saturday, August 8, 18h local time, Stade Moulay Rachid, Casablanca
Ivory Coast's women's team - like the men's side - are delivered ample evidence over recent weeks that they can be Africa's emerging force.
It's an unexpected turnaround, given that they were eliminated by Senegal during qualification, and wouldn't have been present had it not been for CAF's decision to expand the tournament. The Elephants ultimately made the cut as one of the best ranked qualification 'losers', but have firmly looked like they belong over their three group games.
They topped Group B ahead of South Africa, with the likes of Rebecca Elloh, Ines Konan and Grace Sery among the most eye-catching players of the tournament. Wonderkid Safi Ouedraogo looks like a shoo-in for Young Player of the Tournament, having had a direct hand in five goals across three group-stage games.
Algeria may well be their toughest foe yet; the Fennecs were defensively obdurate but offered little more last year, but have demonstrated a more expansive approach over the tournament so far.
Victories over Senegal and Kenya represent clear progression, while they only lost to Morocco in the final six minutes. Marine Dafeur has been inspirational - opening the scoring in both of their victories - while Melissa Bethi has added a touch of class up top, compensating for absent Ghoutia Karchouni.
Arguably the toughest quarterfinal to call, with neither of these two having reached the semis before. We're tipping the Elephants, and their firepower, to just edge it.
Prediction: Ivory Coast
Morocco vs South Africa
Saturday, August 8, 21h, Stade Moulay Hassan, Rabat
Comfortably the tie of the round, and it's a shame that these two have to meet so early, even though the loser will get another match as they look to advance to the inter-confederation playoffs for the World Cup.
This one is a rematch of the 2022 final in Rabat, where Hildah Magaia scored twice to utterly stun Morocco on home soil in a match they had anticipated would be their crowning.
"History shows we can do it, but doesn't give us divine right to make it happen," Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis told ESPN. "No one give us anything, no one will give us anything, we've got to work from it.
"It's a different team, different challenges, the home crowd, it all comes into play," she continued. "The players travelled all over Africa, we've been in situations where we had no fans, and still came up with result. It will have to be like that.
"History tells you we can do it, but history is in the past. We know what's at stake - a World Cup spot - and there couldn't be any bigger motivation than that."
While the Atlas Lionesses have looked every bit would-be champions this time around, with Jorge Vilda's tactical approach taking route, and a swirl of bright, inventive, technically adroit players capable of hurting teams, South Africa have taken their time to get started in this competition.
They were defeated by Tanzania in their opener, and were heading for the exit door with 20 minutes to play against Ivory Coast as they trailed 2-0, before a late turnaround salvaged a point and kept hopes of progression alive.
Thembi Kgatlana fired them past Burkina Faso and into the quarters in their best performance yet, and while they have plenty of players who can hurt Morocco - Linda Motlhalo again appeared to be enjoying herself against the Mares - they aren't anything like as fluid or cohesive a team right now as their quarterfinal opponents.
Prediction: Morocco
Cameroon vs Nigeria
Sunday, August 9, 18h, Stade Larbi Zaouli, Casablanca
There are two ways of looking at Nigeria's run so far; on one hand, Justine Madugu and an unfocused team are getting found out and are running out of second chances, on the other hand, they're demonstrating the mark of champions - playing poorly, but squeezing through.
Of the eight quarterfinalists, they've underperformed the most, falling to a shock defeat by Malawi, edging past Zambia 1-0 after having Oluwatosin Demehin sent off in the 40th minute, before making hard work of a limited Egypt team.
Nonetheless, they're a team full of WAFCON champions, packed with potential match-winners and, as they demonstrated with six different scorers against Egypt, capable of hurting teams in many different ways.
Cameroon have impressed, with victories over Mali and Ghana solid rather than breathtaking, before a changed team were held by Cape Verde with top spot already secured.
Marie Ngah Manga, with three goals so far, has been one of the lethal players in the competition, and Nigeria's backline will have to improve to keep her at bay.
Madugu said ahead of the Cameroon game that Asisat Oshoala's early substitution against Egypt had been precautionary, and what role can the forward - arguably Africa's greatest ever player - enjoy with WC qualification on the line.
Prediction: Nigeria
Malawi vs Ghana
Sunday, August 9, 21h, Stade Al Madina, Rabat
Malawi have been the great story of the WAFCON so far. Ranked 153rd in the world before the tournament began, entering their first ever major competition, pitted alongside Nigeria, Zambia and Egypt, few tipped them to advance - including ESPN.
However, the Scorchers have defied the critics, dispatching Nigeria, downing Egypt, and progressing as group winners - via a convoluted set of permutations - ahead of the Copper Queens.
Had Malawi emerged as merely the tournament's breakout team, it would have been an impressive feat, but the fact they've established themselves as genuine title contenders is absolutely remarkable.
"I'm not surprised because I know, like every player, I wanted to fight to come here," Temwa Chawinga told ESPN. "That's why we are playing good because every player know what we want.
"We need to go to the World Cup, so we are fighting hard," she added. "We need like to win the game. Everyone will put in so much effort to win the game."
Head coach Lovemore Fazili highlighted the team's considerable schedule of friendly games - including participation in the FIFA Series - ahead of the tournament as one of the explanations of their stunning campaign.
"We've managed players very well, given them confidence," he told journalists. "We aren't there yet, but already, this WAFCON is a very huge thing for us."
Such has been their group-stage performances that few would be surprised if they were to edge past a Ghana side who were defeated by Cameroon and held by Mali.
The Black Queens nonetheless have genuine quality across the park; Chantelle Boye Hlorkah has looked bright and committed, Doris Boaduwaa has lived up to the pre-tournament billing, Princess Marko has brought direct running, while Evelyn Badu is also finding some form.
Kim Bjorkegren's side have also navigated WAFCON knockout games recently - securing bronze last year - and are backing themselves to at least repeat that feat.
"In the previous WAFCON, we had like 18 players who were playing in their first WAFCON," Bjorkegren told ESPN. "We hope that one year of experience will help us."
However, while Malawi's Mercy Sikelo is a clear point of fragility for the Scorchers, we're tipping the southern Africans to keep their fairytale run going for at least one game longer, with momentum on their side, the ability to go through the gears and leave teams breathless - look at that second half against Zambia, and - of course - the Chawinga sisters looking at their best.
Prediction: Malawi