The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) kicks off today, 9 January 2022 in Cameroon.
This is the 33rd edition of the African Cup of Nations organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The tournament was originally scheduled to be played in June and July 2021 but the CAF announced on 15 January 2020 that due to unfavourable climatic conditions during the period, the tournament would take place from 9 January to 6 February 2021.
On 30 June 2020, the CAF moved the tournament for the second time to January 2022 following the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic across the continent, whilst retaining the name 2021 Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship purposes.
With the tournament expanded from 16 to 24 teams, six venues will be used across five Cameroonian cities.
The six stadiums selected to host the matches are the Olembe Stadium and Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in the capital Yaoundé, the Japoma Stadium in Douala, the Limbe Stadium in Limbe, the Kouekong Stadium in Bafoussam and the Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua.
The 60,000 capacity Olembe Stadium will host the opening match between host Cameroon and Burkina Faso.
The second game of the day will be played in the same stadium between Ethiopia and Cape Verde.
Playing in Group B are: Senegal, Zimbabwe, Guinea and Malawi.
Group C is made up of Morocco, Ghana, Gabon and Comoros.
Group D has Nigeria, Egypt, Sudan, and Guinea Bissau
Group E can boast of Algeria, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast
The Final Group F has Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania and Gambia.
The Desert Warriors or Fennec Foxes of Algeria are the defending champions, having won the 2019 edition.
The Black Stars of Ghana will be seeking their fifth title in the history of the tournament having won their last trophy in 1982.
<<Print>>