AFCON 2021 fixtures begins on Sunday January 9, with the host nation Cameroon playing Burkina Faso in Group A at 4pm. The delayed 33rd edition of the tournament due to the coronavirus pandemic is set to start this weekend with a host of star players across Africa.
The popular Africa football fiesta was postponed twice and will finally kick-off from 9 January – 6 February 2022 with 24 countries in Africa playing across 6 venues in 5 host cities.
AFCON 2021 Fixtures: The Group Stage
Group A: Cameroon , 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
Matchday 1: Sunday, 9 January 2022
Cameron vs Burkina Faso, 4pm, Olembe Stadium, Yaounde
Ethiopia vs Cape Verde, 7pm, Olembe Stadium, Yaounde
Matchday 2: Monday, 10 January 2022
Senegal vs Zimbabwe, 1pm, Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam
Guinea vs Malawi, 4pm, Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam
Morocco vs Ghana, 4pm, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde
Comoros vs Gabon, 7pm, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde
Matchday 3: Tuesday, 11 January 2022
Algeria vs Sierra Leone, 1pm, Japoma Stadium, Douala
Nigeria vs Egypt, 4pm, Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua
Sudan vs Guinea-Bissau, 7pm, Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua
Matchday 4: Wednesday, 12 January 2022
Tunisia vs Mali, 1pm, Limbe Stadium, Limbe
Mauritania vs Gambia, 4pm, Limbe Stadium, Limbe
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast, 7pm, Japoma Stadium, Douala
Matchday 5: Thursday, 13 January 2022
Cameroon vs Ethiopia, 4pm, Olembe Stadium, Yaounde
Cape Verde vs Burkina Faso, 7pm, Olembe Stadium, Yaounde
Matchday 6: Friday, 14 January 2022
Senegal vs Guinea, 1pm, Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam
Malawi vs Zimbabwe, 4pm, Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam
Morocco vs Comoros, 4pm, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde
Gabon vs Ghana, 7pm, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde
Matchday 7: Saturday, 15 January 2022
Nigeria vs Sudan, 4pm, Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua
Guinea-Bissau vs Egypt, 7pm, Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua
Matchday 8: Sunday, 16 January 2022
Gambia vs Mali, 1pm, Limbe Stadium, Limbe
Ivory Coast vs Sierra Leone, 4pm, Japoma Stadium, Douala
Tunisia vs Mauritania, 4pm, Limbe Stadium, Limbe
Algeria vs Equatorial Guinea, 7pm, Japoma Stadium, Douala
Matchday 9: Monday, 17 January 2022
Burkina Faso vs Ethiopia, 4pm, Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam
Cape Verde vs Cameroon, 4pm, Olembe Stadium, Yaounde
Matchday 10: Tuesday, 18 January 2022
Malawi vs Senegal, 4pm, Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam
Zimbabwe vs Guinea, 4pm, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde
Gabon vs Morocco, 7pm, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde
Ghana vs Comoros, 7pm, Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua
Matchday 11: Wednesday, 19 January 2022
Egypt vs Sudan, 7pm, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde
Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria, 7pm, Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua
Matchday 12: Thursday, 20 January 2022
Ivory Coast vs Algeria, 4pm, Japoma Stadium, Douala
Sierra Leone vs Equatorial Guinea, 4pm, Limbe Stadium, Limbe
Gambia vs Tunisia, 7pm, Limbe Stadium, Limbe
Mali vs Mauritania, 7pm, Japoma Stadium, Douala
Round of 16
Matchday 13: Sunday, 23 January 2022
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
Matchday 14: Monday, 24 January 2022
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
Matchday 15: Tuesday, 25 January 2022
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
Matchday 16: Wednesday, 26 January 2022
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-finals
Matchday 17: Saturday, 29 January 2022
Fixture 1: Round-of-16 game 4 winner vs Round-of-16 game 3 winner, 4pm, Japoma Stadium, Douala
Fixture 2: Round-of-16 game 1 winner vs Round-of-16 game 2 winner, 7pm, Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua
Matchday 18: Sunday, 30 January 2022
Fixture 3: Round-of-16 game 7 winner vs Round-of-16 game 6 winner, 4pm, Olembe Stadium, Yaounde
Fxiture 4: Round-of-16 game 5 winner vs Round-of-16 game 8 winner, 7pm
Semi-finals
Matchday 19: Wednesday, 2 February 2022
Fixture 1: Quarter-final 1 winner vs Quarter-final 4 winner, 7pm, Japoma Stadium, Douala
Matchday 20: Thursday, 3 February 2022
Fixture 2: Quarter-final 2 winner vs Quarter-final 3 winner, 7pm, Olembe Stadium, Yaounde
Final & Third Place match
Matchday 21: Sunday, 6 February 2022
Third Place Match: Semi-final Fixture 1 loser vs Semi-final Fixture 2 loser, 4pm, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde
Final: Semi-final 1 Fixture winner vs Semi-final Fixture 2 winner, 7pm, Olembe Stadium, Yaounde.
Which stadiums will host the matches?
The matches will be played in six stadiums and Olembe Stadium, Yaounde will host the opening match between Cameroon and Burkina Faso and the AFCON final.
- Olembe Stadium, Yaounde
- Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaounde
- Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam
- Roumdé-Adjia Stadium, Garoua
- Japoma Stadium, Douala
- Limbe Omnisport Stadium, Limbe
AFCON 2021: Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Technology in action!
Africa’s football governing body, Confederation of African Football (CAF) has told all participating countries at Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon that Video Assistant Referee (VAR), will be used throughout the tournament.
A total of 63 match officials (24 referees, 31 assistant and 8 video assistant referees (VARs) from 36 countries) have been picked to feature at the AFCON 2021 tournament. Also on the list are two referees drawn from the CONCACAF, the governing body of North and Central Americas and the Caribbean. A female referee Salma Mukansanga, 30 years from Rwanda popularly known as one of the best in Africa, was selected among match officials to handle the tournament. Mukansanga officiated at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup in France.
Recall, VAR technology was partially used during the 2019 AFCON competition in Egypt, starting from the quarter finals through the final. Hopefully, match officials make the right calls when necessary and limit errors during the African Nations Cup in Cameroon with the use of Video Assistant Referee system.
Top 10 Players to Watch out for in AFCON 2021
World-class star players are expected to take part in the AFCON 2021
- Mohamed Salah, Egypt
- Sadio Mane, Senegal
- Edouard Mendy, Senegal
- Thomas Partey, Ghana
- Hakim Ziyech, Morocco
- Riyad Mahrez, Algeria
- Wilfried Zaha, Ivory Coast
- Achraf Hakimi, Morocco
- Wilfred Ndidi, Nigeria
- Bertrand Traore, Burkina Faso
Other players to watch during the AFCON 2021:
- Baghdad Bounedjah, AlgeriaÂ
- Kelechi Iheanacho, Nigeria
- Wahbi Khazri, Tunisia
- Nicolas Pepe, Ivory Coast
- Pape Matar Sarr, Senegal
List of Premier League players going for the AFCON 2021 Tournament
- Arsenal: Thomas Partey (Ghana), Mohamed Elneny (Egypt), Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon), Nicolas Pepe (Ivory Coast), Omar Rekik (Tunisia)
- Liverpool: Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Naby Keita (Guinea), Sadio Mane (Senegal)
- Leicester City: Daniel Amartey (Ghana), Nampalys Mendy (Senegal), Wilfred Ndidi (Nigeria), Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria)
- Crystal Palace: Cheikhou Kouyate (Senegal), Jeffrey Schlupp (Ghana), Jordan Ayew (Ghana), Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast)
- Manchester United: Eric Bailly (Ivory Coast), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia)
- Watford: William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria), Imran Louza (Morocco), Adam Masina (Morocco), Ismaila Sarr (Senegal)
- Brentford: Julian Jeanvier (Guinea), Frank Onyeka (Nigeria), Tariqe Fosu-Henry (Ghana),
- Aston Villa: Mahmoud Trezeguet (Egypt), Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso)
- Wolves: Willy Boly (Ivory Coast), Romain Saiss (Morocco)
- Chelsea: Edouard Mendy (Senegal)
- Manchester City: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)
- Everton: Alex Iwobi (Nigeria)
- Southampton: Moussa Djenepo (Mali)
- Burnley: Maxwel Cornet (Ivory Coast)
- Brighton: Yves Bissouma (Mali)
- West Ham: Said Benrahma (Algeria)
List of LaLiga players going for the AFCON 2021 Tournament
- U.D Almeria: Umar Sadiq (Nigeria)
- Villarreal F.C: Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria), Aïssa Mandi (Algeria), Boulaye Dia (Senegal), Serge Aurier ( Ivory Coast)
- Deportivo Alavés: Mamadou Loum (Senegal)
- RCD Mallorca: Iddrisu Baba (Ghana)
- Cádiz CF: Carlos Akapo (Equatorial Guinean)
- Sevilla F.C: Yassine Bounou (Morroco), Youssef En-nesyri (Morroco), Munir El Haddadi (Morroco)
- Fuenlabrada F.C: Iván Salvador (Equatorial Guinean)
AFCON 2021 Prize Money: How much will AFCON 2021 winner get?
Confederation of African Football (CAF), has announced plans to increase the prize money for the winner for the 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in camerron. The detailed prize money for the AFCON 2021 winner is $5 million and the decision to increase the money was taken in Doula, Cameroon on Sunday. The competition’s runner up will take home $2.75 million.
Below is the detailed prize money breakdown of the Africa Cup of Nations held in 2019:
- $14.2 million shared between the eight best teams
- $800,000 for the quarter-finalists
- The losers at the semi-finalis who contest the third-place play-off got $2 million each
- Runners-up at the final took home $2.5 million
- AFCON 2021 winner, Algeria got $4.5 million in cash prize
Watch out for Yinksmedia AFCON 2021 daily predict and win competition taking place all through the tournament on our social media platforms:
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Note: This article will be constantly updated for latest information on the knockout stage, semi finals and finals of the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
