The 33rd Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), originally scheduled to hold in June and July 2021, will be played in Cameroon between January 9 and February 6, 2022.
Cameroon, the hosts, will take on Burkina Faso in the opening fixture at the new 60,000-seat Olembe Stadium in Yaounde, while Algeria, who would be looking to retain their 2019 crown, must conquer Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Sierra Leone in group E.
The Augustine Eguavoen tutored Super Eagles side will also have Egypt and Sudan to subdue if they are keen to emulate the success of the 2013 winning team.
With barely a few days to kick-off, here are the six groups, 24 participating sides, and group fixtures.
AFCON 2022 Groups
- Group A: Cameroon (hosts), Burkina Faso, Cape Verde Islands, Ethiopia
- Group B: Guinea, Malawi, Senegal, Zimbabwe
- Group C: Comoros Islands, 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
AFCON 2022 Group Stage Fixtures
January 9: Matchday 1 on Sunday
- 4pm: Cameroon v Burkina Faso
- 7pm: Ethiopia v Cape Verde
January 10: Matchday 2 on Monday
- 1pm: Senegal v Zimbabwe
- 4pm: Guinea v Malawi
- 4pm: Morocco v Ghana
- 7pm: Comoros v Gabon
January 11: Matchday 3 on Tuesday
- 1pm: Algeria v Sierra Leone
- 4pm: Nigeria v Egypt
- 7pm: Sudan v Guinea Bissau
January 12: Matchday 4 on Wednesday
- 1pm: Tunisia v Mali
- 4pm: Mauritania v Gambia
- 7pm: Equatorial Guinea v Ivory Coast
Round two fixtures;
January 13: Matchday 5
- 4pm: Cameroon v Ethiopia
- 7pm: Cape Verde v Burkina Faso
January 14: Matchday 6
- 1pm: Senegal v Guinea
- 4pm: Malawi v Zimbabwe
- 4pm: Morocco v Comoros
- 7pm: Gabon v Ghana
January 15: Matchday 7
- 4pm: Nigeria v Sudan
- 7pm: Guinea Bissau v Egypt
January 16: Matchday 8
- 1pm: Gambia v Mali
- 4pm: Ivory Coast v Sierra Leone
- 4pm: Tunisia v Mauritania
- 7pm: Algeria v Equitoria Guinea
Round of three — last group games;
January 17: Matchday 9
- 4pm: Burkina Faso v Ethiopia
- 4pm: Cape Verde v Cameroon
January 18: Matchday 10
- 4pm: Malawi v Senegal
- 4pm: Zimbabwe v Guinea
- 7pm: Gabon v Morocco
- 7pm: Ghana v Comoros
January 19: Matchday 11
- 7pm: Egypt v Sudan
- 7pm: Guinea Bissau v Nigeria
January 20: Matchday 12
- 4pm: Ivory Coast v Algeria
- 4pm: Sierra Leone v Equatorial Guinea
- 7pm: Gambia v Tunisia
- 7pm: Mali v Mauritania
Round of 16
January 23
4pm: Runner-up Group A vs Runner-up Group C at Limbe Stadium, Limbe
R16 Match 2:
January 23
7pm: Winner Group D vs 3rd Group B/E/F at Roumdé Adjia Stadium, Garoua
R16 Match 4:
January 24
4pm: Runner-up Group B vs Runner-up Group F at Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam
R16 Match 3:
January 24
7pm: Winner Group A vs 3rd Group C/D/E at Olembe Stadium, Yaoundé
R16 Match 5:
January 25
4pm: Winner Group B vs 3rd Group A/C/D at Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam
R16 Match 6:
January 25
7pm: Winner Group C vs 3rd Group A/B/F at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé
R16 Match 7:
January 26
4pm: Winner Group E vs Runner-up Group D at Japoma Stadium, Douala
R16 Match 8:
January 26
7pm: Winner Group F vs Runner-up Group E at Limbe Stadium, Limbe
Quarterfinals Pairings;
Quarter-Final B: January 29
4pm: Winner R16-M4 vs Winner R16-M3 at Japoma Stadium, Douala
Quarter-Final A: January 29
7pm: Winner R16-M1 vs Winner R16-M2 at Roumdé Adjia Stadium, Garoua
Quarter-Final C: January 30
4pm: Winner R16-M7 v Winner R16-M6 at Olembe Stadium, Yaoundé
Quarter-Final D: January 30
7pm: Winner R16-M5 vs Winner R16-M8 at Japoma Stadium, Douala
Semifinal Pairings;
SF 1: February 2
7pm: Winner QF A vs Winner QF D at Japoma Stadium, Douala
SF 2: February 3
7pm: Winner QF B vs Winner QF C at Olembe Stadium, Yaoundé
Third-place Match: February 6
5pm: Loser SF1 vs Loser SF2 at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé
Final: February 6
7pm: Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2 at Olembe Stadium, Yaoundé
Source: Top Stories