Africa Cup of Nations 2021 - Schedule, fixtures, venues as Africa's biggest tournament kicks off in Cameroon

Published 04/01/2022 at 17:39 GMT

The 33rd edition of Africa’s premier International cup competition takes place in Cameroon with Africa's biggest stars including Mohamed Salah and Riyad Mahrez descending on the west African nation in persuit of glory. 24 teams are set to go head-to-head between Janaury and February when a new champion will be crowned.

The trophy of the African Cup of Nations, presented on December 7, 2021 by the General Manager of Total Energie in Cameroon Adrien Bechonnet to Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, Cameroonian Minister of Sports and Physical Education.

Image credit: Getty Images

Africa’s premier International cup competition the Africa Cup of Nations is set to begin as the continent's best teams and players go head-to-head to see who will come out on top.

This year signals the 33rd edition of the tournament which began in 1957 and nominally takes place every two years with rare exceptions.

The first tournament, held in Sudan, featured just three teams with Egypt beating Ethiopia in the final having earlier overcome the hosts.

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Over the years, the tournament has continued to grow and expand with this year’s event featuring 24 teams in total.

Algeria are the reigning champions having beaten Senegal 1-0 in the 2019 final in Egypt.

When is the Africa Cup of Nations?

The tournament begins on Sunday January 9 with the final taking place on Sunday February 6.

Where is it being held?

This year’s edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will take place in Cameroon. However, this wasn’t always the case as the west African nation were originally due to host the 2019 tournament before being replaced by Egypt due to delays in preparation and therefore handed the 2021 event instead.

Ivory Coast, who were originally slated for 2021 will now take on hosting duties for 2023.

This year's final will be held at the 60,000 seater Olembe Stadium in Yaounde

Why now?

We’ve been through this! Like most other tournaments and events scheduled for 2020 and 2021, the global coronavirus pandemic forced everything to be delayed by a year.

Yes, but why now, in the middle of the traditional European season?

The Africa Cup of Nations has frequently been held around this time of year for reasons including climate conditions and the timing of the African club football seasons.

CAF, African football’s governing body, has actually agreed to try and move the tournament to the European summer – as seen in Egypt in 2019 – but it wasn’t possible this year.

The next competition is currently scheduled for June-July of 2023.

Format

There are six groups of four teams who play each other once. The top two from each group automatically progress to the last 16 knockout stage.

They will be joined by the four best third-placed teams with the bottom six teams in each group and the two third place teams with the worst records being eliminated.

Algeria's forward Riyad Mahrez and his teammates celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Final football match between Senegal and Algeria at the Cairo International Stadium in Cairo on July 19, 2019.

Image credit: Getty Images

Schedule

Sunday January 9

Group A: Cameron vs Burkina Faso, 4pm, Olembe Stadium, Yaounde
Group A: Ethiopia vs Cape Verde, 7pm, Olembe Stadium, Yaounde

Monday January 10

Group B: Senegal vs Zimbabwe, 1pm, Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam
Group B: Guinea vs Malawi, 4pm, Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam
Group C: Morocco vs Ghana, 4pm, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde
Group C: Comoros vs Gabon, 7pm, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde

Tuesday January 11

Group E: Algeria vs Sierra Leone, 1pm, Japoma Stadium, Douala
Group D: Nigeria vs Egypt, 4pm, Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua
Group D: Sudan vs Guinea-Bissau, 7pm, Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua

Wednesday January 12

Group F: Tunisia vs Mali, 1pm, Limbe Stadium, Limbe
Group F: Mauritania vs Gambia, 4pm, Limbe Stadium, Limbe
Group E: Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast, 7pm, Japoma Stadium, Douala

Thursday January 13

Group A: Cameroon vs Ethiopia, 4pm, Olembe Stadium, Yaounde
Group A: Cape Verde vs Burkina Faso, 7pm, Olembe Stadium, Yaounde)

Friday January 14

Group B: Senegal vs Guinea, 1pm, Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam)
Group B: Malawi vs Zimbabwe, 4pm, Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam)
Group C: Morocco vs Comoros, 4pm, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde
Group C: Gabon vs Ghana, 7pm, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde

Saturday January 15

Group D: Nigeria vs Sudan, 4pm, Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua
Group D: Guinea-Bissau vs Egypt, 7pm, Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua

Sunday January 16

Group F: Gambia vs Mali, 1pm, Limbe Stadium, Limbe
Group E: Ivory Coast vs Sierra Leone, 4pm, Japoma Stadium, Douala
Group F: Tunisia vs Mauritania, 4pm, Limbe Stadium, Limbe
Group E: Algeria vs Equatorial Guinea, 7pm, Japoma Stadium, Douala

Monday January 17

Group A: Burkina Faso vs Ethiopia, 4pm, Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam
Group A: Cape Verde vs Cameroon, 4pm, Olembe Stadium, Yaounde

Tuesday January 18

Group B: Malawi vs Senegal, 4pm, Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam
Group B: Zimbabwe vs Guinea, 4pm, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde
Group C: Gabon vs Morocco, 7pm, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde
Group C: Ghana vs Comoros, 7pm, Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua

Wednesday January 19

Group D: Egypt vs Sudan, 7pm, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde
Group D: Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria, 7pm, Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua

Thursday January 20

Group E: Ivory Coast vs Algeria, 4pm, Japoma Stadium, Douala
Group E: Sierra Leone vs Equatorial Guinea, 4pm, Limbe Stadium, Limbe
Group F: Gambia vs Tunisia, 7pm, Limbe Stadium, Limbe
Group F: Mali vs Mauritania, 7pm, Japoma Stadium, Douala

Round-of-16 fixtures and results

Sunday January 23

Group A runner-up vs Group C runner-up, 4pm, Limbe Stadium, Limbe
Group D winner vs Group B/E/F third-place, 7pm, Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua

Monday January 24

Group B runner-up vs Group F runner-up, 4pm, Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam
Group A winner vs Group C/D/E third-place, 7pm Olembe Stadium, Yaounde

Tuesday January 25

Group B winner vs Group A/C/D third-place, 4pm, Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam
Group C winner vs Group A/B/F third-place, 7pm, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde

Wednesday January 26

Group E winner vs Group D runner-up, 4pm, Japoma Stadium, Douala
Group F winner vs Group E runner-up, 7pm, Limbe Stadium, Limbe

Quarter-final fixtures and results

Saturday January 29

Quarter-final 1: Round-of-16 game 4 winner vs Round-of-16 game 3 winner, 4pm, Japoma Stadium, Douala
Quarter-final 2: Round-of-16 game 1 winner vs Round-of-16 game 2 winner, 7pm, Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua

Sunday January 30

Quarter-final 3: Round-of-16 game 7 winner vs Round-of-16 game 6 winner, 4pm, Olembe Stadium, Yaounde
Quarter-final 4: Round-of-16 game 5 winner vs Round-of-16 game 8 winner, 7pm

Semi-finals

Wednesday February 2

Semi-final 1: Quarter-final 1 winner vs Quarter-final 4 winner, 7pm, Japoma Stadium, Douala

Thursday February 3

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, 4pm (Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde) - Live on Sky Sports

Final

Sunday February 6

Semi-final 1 winner vs Semi-final 2 winner, 7pm, Olembe Stadium, Yaounde

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