Only one week before AFCON gets underway

Finally, after all the push and shove, the delayed Africa Cup of Nations 2021 is only seven days away from the opening game that will pit hosts Cameroon against Burkina Faso in the month long prestigious African competition that will see 24 teams battle for the continent’s glory.

Originally, the AFCON was due to be held in 2021—two years after the 2019 event in Egypt—but was pushed back until early 2022 in light of the coronavirus pandemic that ravaged the whole world last year.

Even after being postponed to this year, the competition risked to be pushed to a later date for a second time owing to the selfish pressure that came from world football governing body FIFA. However, with CAF President Patrice Motsepe and a host of other strong voices standing strong, the tournament is scheduled to get underway as planned on 9 January 2022 and is set to conclude on 6 February.

There will be a couple new participants at the tournament, with both Comoros and Gambia making their debuts at Africa’s biggest tournament, while Sierra Leone return for the first time since 1996.

The opening ceremony and first game will take place at the new 60,000 seat Paul Biya Stadium in Olembe 13km north of the commercial capital Yaounde. Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, also in Yaounde, will host group stage games.

Stadiums in Garoua, Bafoussam, Limbe and Douala will be also be used during the month-long tournament which kicks off on 9 January and ends on 6 February.

As in the 2019 tournament in Egypt, the top two from the six groups will advance directly to the last-16 with the four best third-placed teams.

From there, the competition becomes a knockout tournament with penalties to decide the winner of a tie if the score is level after 30 minutes of extra-time.

Group A: Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Cape Verde

Group B: Senegal, Zimbabwe, Guinea, Malawi

Group C: Morocco, Ghana, Comoros, Gabon

Group D: Nigeria, Egypt, Sudan, Guinea-Bissau

Group E: Algeria, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire

Group F: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Gambia.