African Cup of Nations: All you need to know about AFCON 2021

The tournament will be contested by 24 teams with Algeria being the defending champion after winning the title in 2019.

Mr. Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, Minister of Sports and Physical Education of Cameroon presents the Africa Cup of Nations trophy.

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is the first major international event of the football calendar in 2022 and is being hosted by Cameroon.

The tournament was initially supposed to take place in June 2021. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) then announced that due to unfavourable climatic conditions in Cameroon during this period, the tournament would take place from 9 January to 6 February 2021.

On June 30, 2020, the CAF postponed the tournament to January 2022 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The tournament will be contested by 24 teams with Algeria being the defending champion after winning the title in 2019. 

RELATED: AFCON: Virus cases for Egypt, more problems for Gabon

Groups and Teams:

• Group A:  Cameroon (host), Burkina Faso, Cape Verde Islands, Ethiopia 
• Group B:  Guinea, Malawi, Senegal, Zimbabwe 
• Group C:  Comoros Island, Gabon, Ghana, Morocco 
• Group D:  Egypt, Guinea Bissau, Nigeria, Sudan 
• Group E:  Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone 
• Group F:  Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Tunisia

Format of the Tournament

There are 24 teams divided into six groups of four each. The top two will qualify for the last-16 alongside the four best-ranked third-placed sides.

When and where it is taking place?

The nation of Cameroon is hosting this edition of the AFCON. The tournament starts on January 9 and the first match will be played between the host country and Burkina Faso. The final will be played on February 7. 

Venues

The six venues selected to host the matches are:

• The Olembe Stadium and the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in the capital, Yaounde.
• The Japoma Stadium in Douala.
• The Limbe Stadium in Limbe.
• The Kouekong Stadium in Bafoussam.
• The Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua. 

The opening match between Cameroon and Burkina Faso and the final will take place at the newly-built Olembe Stadium.

RELATED: Cup of Nations kicks off under COVID cloud

Teams to look out for  

Algeria:  The current champion Algeria is one of the favourites to win the competition. Fresh from winning the FIFA Arab Cup, the Riyad-Mahrez led side is on a 34-match unbeaten streak and is highly likely to break Italy's record of 37 unbeaten matches. Apart from Mahrez, Youcef Atal and Ramy Bensebaini are some of the key players in the squad. Algeria has two AFCON titles. 

Senegal:  Senegal has been Africa's top-ranked side in the last three years and will be boosted by the presence of Sadio Mane. Runner-up in 2019, Aliou Cisse's team can pose a serious title challenge if they play as a unit. They have a strong presence between the sticks in Edouard Mendy. Players like Kalidou Koulibaly and Idrissa Gana Gueye will be significant presences in the backline and midfield. The team will be keen to bag its first AFCON title. 

Egypt:  Record seven-time winner Egypt will be looking to add to its impressive tally and the fact that they are backed by Mohamed Salah who is enjoying a great season with Liverpool, makes their case even stronger to go deep into the tournament. Apart from Salah, the Pharaohs are backed by a tactically astute coach in Carlos Quieroz. 

Cameroon:  Cameroon boasts of five titles and will be looking to make it six on home soil. A team characterised by grit, it boasts of talented players like Andre Onana, Karl Toko Ekambi and Vincent Aboubakar. 

Where to watch the African Cup of Nations 2021 live in India?

The African Cup of Nations 2021 will be telecast live on the Sony Six and Sony ESPN SD and HD TV channels in India from Sunday, January 9. Coverage will begin from 9.30 PM.

Full schedule of AFCON 2021

Group-stage fixtures Sunday January 9 Group A : Cameron vs Burkina Faso, 9:30 pm, Olembe Stadium, Yaounde Monday January 10 Group A : Ethiopia vs Cape Verde, 12:30 pm, Olembe Stadium, Yaounde Group B : Senegal vs Zimbabwe, 6:30 pm, Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam Group B : Guinea vs Malawi, 9:30 pm, Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam Group C : Morocco vs Ghana, 9:30 pm, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde Tuesday January 11 Group C : Comoros vs Gabon, 12:30 am, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde Group E : Algeria vs Sierra Leone, 6:30 pm, Japoma Stadium, Douala Group D : Nigeria vs Egypt, 9:30 pm, Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua Wednesday January 12 Group D : Sudan vs Guinea-Bissau, 12:30 am, Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua Group F : Tunisia vs Mali, 6:30 pm, Limbe Stadium, Limbe Group F : Mauritania vs Gambia, 9:30 pm, Limbe Stadium, Limbe Thursday January 13 Group E : Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast, 12:30 am, Japoma Stadium, Douala Group A : Cameroon vs Ethiopia, 9:30 pm, Olembe Stadium, Yaounde Friday January 14 Group A : Cape Verde vs Burkina Faso, 12:30 am, Olembe Stadium, Yaounde Group B : Senegal vs Guinea, 6:30 pm, Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam) Group B : Malawi vs Zimbabwe, 9:30 pm, Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam) Group C : Morocco vs Comoros, 9:30 pm, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde Saturday January 15 Group C : Gabon vs Ghana, 12:30 am, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde Group D : Nigeria vs Sudan, 9:30 pm, Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua Sunday January 16 Group D : Guinea-Bissau vs Egypt, 12:30 am, Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua Group F : Gambia vs Mali, 6:30 pm, Limbe Stadium, Limbe Group E : Ivory Coast vs Sierra Leone, 9:30 pm, Japoma Stadium, Douala Group F : Tunisia vs Mauritania, 9:30 pm, Limbe Stadium, Limbe Monday January 17 Group E : Algeria vs Equatorial Guinea, 12:30 am, Japoma Stadium, Douala Group A : Burkina Faso vs Ethiopia, 9:30 pm, Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam Group A : Cape Verde vs Cameroon, 9:30 pm, Olembe Stadium, Yaounde Tuesday January 18 Group B : Malawi vs Senegal, 9:30 pm, Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam Group B : Zimbabwe vs Guinea, 9:30 pm, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde Wednesday January 19 Group C : Gabon vs Morocco, 12:30 am, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde Group C : Ghana vs Comoros, 12:30 am, Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua Thursday January 20 Group D : Egypt vs Sudan, 12:30 am, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde Group D : Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria, 12:30 am, Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua Group E : Ivory Coast vs Algeria, 9:30 pm, Japoma Stadium, Douala Group E : Sierra Leone vs Equatorial Guinea, 9:30 pm, Limbe Stadium, Limbe Friday January 21 Group F : Gambia vs Tunisia, 7pm, Limbe Stadium, Limbe Group F : Mali vs Mauritania, 7pm, Japoma Stadium, Douala Round-of-16 fixtures Sunday January 23 Group A runner-up vs Group C runner-up, 9:30 pm, Limbe Stadium, Limbe Monday January 24 Group D winner vs Group B/E/F third-place, 12:30 am, Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua Group B runner-up vs Group F runner-up, 9:30 pm, Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam Tuesday January 25 Group A winner vs Group C/D/E third-place, 12:30 am Olembe Stadium, Yaounde Group B winner vs Group A/C/D third-place, 9:30 pm, Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam Wednesday January 26 Group C winner vs Group A/B/F third-place, 12:30 am, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde Group E winner vs Group D runner-up, 9:30 pm, Japoma Stadium, Douala Thursday January 27 Group F winner vs Group E runner-up, 7pm, Limbe Stadium, Limbe Quarterfinal fixtures Saturday January 29 Quarter-final 1 : Round-of-16 game 4 winner vs Round-of-16 game 3 winner, 9:30 pm, Japoma Stadium, Douala Sunday January 30 Quarter-final 2 : Round-of-16 game 1 winner vs Round-of-16 game 2 winner, 12:30 am, Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua Quarter-final 3 : Round-of-16 game 7 winner vs Round-of-16 game 6 winner, 9:30 pm, Olembe Stadium, Yaounde Monday January 31 Quarter-final 4 : Round-of-16 game 5 winner vs Round-of-16 game 8 winner, 12:30 am Semifinal fixtures Thursday February 3 Semi-final 1 : Quarter-final 1 winner vs Quarter-final 4 winner, 12:30 am, Japoma Stadium, Douala Friday February 4 Semi-final 2 : Quarter-final 2 winner vs Quarter-final 3 winner, 7pm, Olembe Stadium, Yaounde Third-place match Sunday February 6 Semi-final 1 loser vs Semi-final 2 loser, 9:30 pm (Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde) Final Sunday February 7 Semi-final 1 winner vs Semi-final 2 winner, 12:30 am, Olembe Stadium, Yaounde