The 33rd Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be held in Cameroon from January 9 to February 6, 2022.
Cameroon, the hosts, will face Burkina Faso in the opening match at the new 60,000-seat Olembe Stadium in Yaounde, while Algeria, looking to defend their 2019 title, will face Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Sierra Leone in Group E.
If the Augustine Eguavoen-coached Super Eagles are to replicate the success of the 2013 winning team, they will also have to defeat Egypt and Sudan.
With only a few days until the start of the season, here are the six groups, 24 participating teams, and group fixtures.
With barely a few days to kick-off, here are the six groups, 24 participating sides, and group fixtures.
AFCON 2022 Groups
Group A: Cameroon (hosts), 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
AFCON 2022 Group Stage Fixtures
January 9: Matchday 1 on Sunday
4 pm: Cameroon v Burkina Faso
7 pm: Ethiopia v Cape Verde
January 10: Matchday 2 on Monday
1 pm: Senegal v Zimbabwe
4 pm: Guinea v Malawi
4 pm: Morocco v Ghana
7 pm: Comoros v Gabon
January 11: Matchday 3 on Tuesday
1 pm: Algeria v Sierra Leone
4 pm: Nigeria v Egypt
7 pm: Sudan v Guinea Bissau
January 12: Matchday 4 on Wednesday
1 pm: Tunisia v Mali
4pm: Mauritania v Gambia
7 pm: Equatorial Guinea v Ivory Coast
Round two fixtures;
January 13: Matchday 5
4pm: Cameroon v Ethiopia
7pm: Cape Verde v Burkina Faso
January 14: Matchday 6
1 pm: Senegal v Guinea
4 pm: Malawi v Zimbabwe
4pm: Morocco v Comoros
7 pm: Gabon v Ghana
January 15: Matchday 7
4 pm: Nigeria v Sudan
7 pm: Guinea Bissau v Egypt
January 16: Matchday 8
1 pm: Gambia v Mali
4 pm: Ivory Coast v Sierra Leone
4pm: Tunisia v Mauritania
7pm: Algeria v Equitoria Guinea
Round of three — last group games;
January 17: Matchday 9
4 pm: Burkina Faso v Ethiopia
4 pm: Cape Verde v Cameroon
January 18: Matchday 10
4pm: Malawi v Senegal
4 pm: Zimbabwe v Guinea
7 pm: Gabon v Morocco
7 pm: Ghana v Comoros
January 19: Matchday 11
7 pm: Egypt v Sudan
7 pm: Guinea Bissau v Nigeria
January 20: Matchday 12
4 pm: Ivory Coast v Algeria
4pm: Sierra Leone v Equatorial Guinea
7 pm: Gambia v Tunisia
7pm: Mali v Mauritania
Round of 16
January 23
4 pm: Runner-up Group A vs Runner-up Group C at Limbe Stadium, Limbe
R16 Match 2:
January 23
7pm: Winner Group D vs 3rd Group B/E/F at Roumdé Adjia Stadium, Garoua
R16 Match 4:
January 24
4 pm: Runner-up Group B vs Runner-up Group F at Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam
R16 Match 3:
January 24
7pm: Winner Group A vs 3rd Group C/D/E at Olembe Stadium, Yaoundé
R16 Match 5:
January 25
4pm: Winner Group B vs 3rd Group A/C/D at Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam
R16 Match 6:
January 25
7pm: Winner Group C vs 3rd Group A/B/F at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé
R16 Match 7:
January 26
4pm: Winner Group E vs Runner-up Group D at Japoma Stadium, Douala
R16 Match 8:
January 26
7 pm: Winner Group F vs Runner-up Group E at Limbe Stadium, Limbe
Quarterfinals Pairings;
Quarter-Final B: January 29
4 pm: Winner R16-M4 vs Winner R16-M3 at Japoma Stadium, Douala
Quarter-Final A: January 29
7 pm: Winner R16-M1 vs Winner R16-M2 at Roumdé Adjia Stadium, Garoua
Quarter-Final C: January 30
4pm: Winner R16-M7 v Winner R16-M6 at Olembe Stadium, Yaoundé
Quarter-Final D: January 30
7 pm: Winner R16-M5 vs Winner R16-M8 at Japoma Stadium, Douala
Semifinal Pairings;
SF 1: February 2
7 pm: Winner QF A vs Winner QF D at Japoma Stadium, Douala
SF 2: February 3
7pm: Winner QF B vs Winner QF C at Olembe Stadium, Yaoundé
Third-place Match: February 6
5 pm: Loser SF1 vs Loser SF2 at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé
Final: February 6
7 pm: Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2 at Olembe Stadium, Yaoundé
