Fifty two (52) countries took part in the qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations with only 24 places available. The qualified teams unveiled after a campaign that started in October 2019 and ended in June 2021, due to the one-year hiatus caused by Covid-19, are now fixed on their opponents.
Following the draw for the final tournament held in Yaoundé on Tuesday 17 August, the 24 qualified teams were divided into four groups.
The opening match will pit tournament host and five-time Africa Cup of Nations winners Cameroon against Burkina Faso, runners-up of 2013 AFCON.
The Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021 will take place from 9 January to 6 February 2022.
CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe was in the front row to attend the draw, as well as African legends Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba and Asamoah Gyan.
Five main cities were selected as hosts of the tournament, namely Douala and its Japoma Stadium, Yaoundé and its Ahmadou Ahidjo and Olembé Stadiums, Bafoussam and its Kouekong Stadium, Garoua and its Roumdé-Adjia Stadium and finally the Limbe-Buea venue which houses the Limbe Omnisport Stadium.
AFCON groups:
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, Côte d’Ivoire
Group F: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Gambia
Road to Final
Group stage: from January 9 to 20, 2022
Round of 16: January 23-26, 2022
Quarter-finals: January 29 and 30, 2022
Semi-finals: February 2 and 3, 2022
Third Place match and Final: February 6, 2022
