2021 Africa Cup of Nations

Last updated

2021 Africa Cup of Nations
Coupe d'Afrique des Nations 2021
2021 Africa Cup of Nations logo.png
Official logo
Tournament details
Host countryCameroon
Dates9 January – 6 February 2022 [1]
Teams24
Venue(s)6 (in 5 host cities)
Final positions
ChampionsFlag of Senegal.svg  Senegal (1st title)
Runners-upFlag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
Third placeFlag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon
Fourth placeFlag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso
Tournament statistics
Matches played52
Goals scored100 (1.92 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of Cameroon.svg Vincent Aboubakar (8 goals)
Best player(s) Flag of Senegal.svg Sadio Mané [2]
Best young player Flag of Burkina Faso.svg Issa Kaboré [3]
Best goalkeeper Flag of Senegal.svg Édouard Mendy [2]
Fair play awardFlag of Senegal.svg  Senegal [2]
2019
2023

The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (also referred to as AFCON 2021 or CAN 2021), known as the TotalEnergies 2021 Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship reasons, [4] was the 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the biennial international men's football championship of Africa organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The tournament was hosted by Cameroon, [5] and took place from 9 January to 6 February 2022. [1]

Contents

The tournament was originally scheduled to be played in June and July 2021. However, the CAF announced on 15 January 2020 that due to unfavourable climatic conditions during that period, the tournament had been rescheduled to be played between 9 January and 6 February 2021. [6] On 30 June 2020, the CAF moved the tournament's dates for the second time to January 2022 following the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic across the continent, whilst retaining the name 2021 Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship purposes. [7]

Matches were played in six venues across five cities. Algeria were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the first round after finishing bottom of their group. [8] Senegal won their first AFCON title after defeating Egypt in the final 4–2 on penalties, following a 0–0 draw after extra time. [9]

Host selection

After the CAF Executive Committee meeting on 24 January 2014, it was announced that there were three official candidates for the 2021 edition: [10]

Bids:

Rejected bids:

This list was different from the list of the host nation bids for both the 2019 and 2021 edition of the Cup of Nations as announced by CAF in November 2013, with Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon and Zambia also on the original list. [11] All three official candidates also bid for hosting the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

The decision of the host country was postponed from early 2014 to grant each bidding country adequate time to receive the inspection delegation. [10] After the final vote at the CAF Executive Committee meeting, on 20 September 2014, the CAF announced the hosts for the 2019, 2021 and 2023 AFCON tournaments: 2019 to Cameroon, 2021 to Ivory Coast, and 2023 to Guinea. [12]

Host change

On 30 November 2018, CAF stripped Cameroon of hosting the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations because of delays in the construction of stadiums and other necessary infrastructure; [13] it was relocated to Egypt. [14] CAF President at the time, Ahmad Ahmad, said that Cameroon had agreed to host the 2021 tournament instead. [15] Consequently, Ivory Coast, original hosts of 2021, will host the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, and Guinea, original hosts of 2023, will host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. [16] [17] On 30 January 2019, the CAF President confirmed the timetable shift, after a meeting with Ivory Coast President, Alassane Ouattara, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. [18]

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

The tournament was originally scheduled to take place between 9 January and 6 February 2021. [19] The preliminary round and two matchdays of the qualifying group stage had already been played between 9 October and 19 November 2019. The third and fourth matchdays of the qualifying group stage, which were initially scheduled to take place from 23 to 31 March and 1 to 9 June 2020 respectively, were postponed and all remaining qualifying matches rescheduled due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. [20]

On 19 June 2020, the CAF stated it was undecided about when continental competitions would resume, and were prioritising new schedules for the 2019–20 CAF Champions League and the 2019–20 CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals, the postponed 2020 African Nations Championship and the 2020 Africa Women Cup of Nations, alongside the 2021 Africa Cup of Nation, as football competitions across the continent had been postponed, cancelled or suspended. [21]

On 30 June 2020, however, the CAF announced the rescheduling of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations to January 2022 "after consultation with stakeholders and taking into consideration the current global situation" according to a published statement, with new dates to be announced at a later date. [22] Subsequently, other continental competitions and events to be held were rescheduled or cancelled, including new dates for the remaining AFCON qualifiers, which were now to be completed by March 2021. [23] On 31 March 2021, it was confirmed that the final tournament would take place from 9 January to 6 February 2022, exactly one year after its originally scheduled start date. [1]

Qualification

Qualified teams

The following teams qualified for the tournament.

TeamMethod of
qualification
Date of
qualification
Finals
appearance
Last
appearance
Previous best
performance
FIFA ranking
at start of event
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon Hosts / Group F winners8 January 201920th 2019 Winners (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017)50
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal Group I winners15 November 202016th 2019 Runners-up (2002, 2019)20
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria Group H winners16 November 202019th 2019 Winners (1990, 2019)29
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali Group A winners17 November 202012th 2019 Runners-up (1972)53
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia Group J winners17 November 202020th 2019 Winners (2004)30
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso Group B winners24 March 202112th 2017 Runners-up (2013)60
Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea Group A runners-up24 March 202113th 2019 Runners-up (1976)81
Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros Group G runners-up25 March 20211stNoneDebut132
Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon Group D runners-up25 March 20218th 2017 Quarter-finals (1996, 2012)89
Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia Group D winners25 March 20211stNoneDebut150
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt Group G winners25 March 202125th 2019 Winners (1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010)45
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana Group C winners25 March 202123rd 2019 Winners (1963, 1965, 1978, 1982)52
Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea Group J runners-up25 March 20213rd 2015 Fourth place (2015)114
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe Group H runners-up25 March 20215th 2019 Group stage (2004, 2006, 2017, 2019)121
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast Group K winners26 March 202124th 2019 Winners (1992, 2015)56
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco Group E winners26 March 202118th 2019 Winners (1976)28
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria Group L winners27 March 202119th 2019 Winners (1980, 1994, 2013)36
Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan Group C runners-up28 March 20219th 2012 Winners (1970)125
Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi Group B runners-up29 March 20213rd 2010 Group stage (1984, 2010)129
Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia Group K runners-up30 March 202111th 2013 Winners (1962)137
Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania Group E runners-up30 March 20212nd 2019 Group stage (2019)103
Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau Group I runners-up30 March 20213rd 2019 Group stage (2017, 2019)106
Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde Group F runners-up30 March 20213rd 2015 Quarter-finals (2013)73
Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone Group L runners-up15 June 20213rd 1996 Group stage (1994, 1996)108

Format

A total of 24 teams competed in the final tournament. Only the hosts received an automatic qualification spot, with the other 23 teams qualifying through a qualification tournament. For the finals, the 24 teams were drawn into six groups of four teams. The teams in each group played a single round robin, and after the group stage, the top two teams from each group and the four highest ranked third-placed teams advanced to the round of 16. From then on the tournament proceeded with a knockout phase.

Match ball

CAF announced the official match ball named Toghu on 23 November 2021. It was made by English manufacturer Umbro. [24]

Mascot

The mascot, "Mola", was unveiled on 17 May 2021, during a ceremony in Yaoundé. He was a lion and his kit bore resemblance to Cameroon's home colours, with words saying "Cameroon" with "2021" on the top and bottom of the kit. [25]

Match officials

The following referees were chosen for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, with two referees from CONCACAF assigned. The list consists of 24 referees, 31 assistant referees and eight video assistant referees from 36 countries. [26]

Referees

Assistant referees

Video assistant referees

Draw

The final draw was originally scheduled to take place on 25 June 2021, but was postponed to 17 August 2021 due to logistical reasons relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. [1] [4] [27] The 24 teams were divided into four groups of six each, with the four initial pots determined based on the August 2021 FIFA World Rankings (shown in parentheses), listed below. Cameroon and Algeria were automatically given the top two seeds as hosts and title holders, respectively.

Pot 1Pot 2Pot 3Pot 4
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon (54) (hosts)
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria (30) (title holders)
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal (21)
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia (28)
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco (32)
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria (34)
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt (46)
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana (52)
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast (57)
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali (60)
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso (62)
Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea (76)
Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde (77)
Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon (85)
Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania (100)
Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone (106)
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe (108)
Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau (109)
Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi (118)
Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan (121)
Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea (132)
Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros (133)
Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia (137)
Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia (148)

Venues

2021 Africa Cup of Nations
Invisible Square.svg
Invisible Square.svg
Mapscaleline.svg
400km
250miles
Red pog.svg
5
Invisible Square.svg
4
Invisible Square.svg
3
Invisible Square.svg
2
Invisible Square.svg
Location of the host cities of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations

With the Africa Cup of Nations expanded from 16 to 24 teams, six venues were used across five Cameroonian cities. [28] The six stadiums selected to host matches were the Olembe Stadium and Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, both in the capital Yaoundé, the Japoma Stadium in Douala, the Limbe Stadium in Limbe, the Kouekong Stadium in Bafoussam and the Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua. [29] The opening match of the tournament and the final took place at the newly built 60,000 seater Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé. [30]

CityStadiumCapacity
Yaoundé Olembe Stadium 60,000
Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium 42,500
Douala Japoma Stadium 50,000
Garoua Roumdé Adjia Stadium 25,000
Bafoussam Kouekong Stadium 20,000
Limbe Limbe Stadium 20,000

Opening ceremony

Atmosphere before the start of the AFCON launch ceremonies. Ceremonie d'ouverture CAN Cameroun 2021.jpg
Atmosphere before the start of the AFCON launch ceremonies.

The opening ceremony of the stadium began at 10:00 with the setting up of the animation groups and the cultural activities which lasted until 14:00. [31] Guests and officials were set up until the start of the opening match at 17:00. Among the guests were members of Confederation of African Football (CAF), members of the diplomatic corps, presidents of legislative and judicial institutions, members of government including the president of COCAN 2021 and the presidents of CAF and FIFA.

The set-up of officials ended by 16:00 with the arrival of the presidents of Comoros and Cameroon. After the performance of the hymns, the opening speech was made by Patrice Motsepe, CAF's president followed by the solemn opening of the competition by the President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya, after which a cultural parade of about an hour took place.

A cultural interlude representing the four cultural areas of Cameroon was presented with five hundred young ambassadors and the mascot Mola who participated in the dance, the host artist, Fally Ipupa offered a performance. [32] During this parade, a virtual lion appeared to viewers, this was set up by Belgian graphic designer Thibault Baras on an idea of the creative company lib. [33] Made in augmented reality and turned on a game engine, this lion was sixteen meters long, eight meters high and weighed a ton. [34] [35]

After the match, which took place from 17:00 to 19:00, there was a fireworks display.

Squads

Group stage

The top two teams of each group, along with the best four third-placed teams, advanced to the round of 16.

Tiebreakers

Teams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss), and if tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria were applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings (Regulations Article 74): [36]

  1. Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  4. If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, if two teams were still tied, all head-to-head criteria above were applied exclusively to these two teams;
  5. Goal difference in all group matches;
  6. Goals scored in all group matches;
  7. Drawing of lots.

Group A

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon (H)321073+47Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 31113304 [lower-alpha 1]
3Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde 31112204 [lower-alpha 1]
4Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia 30122641
Source: CAF
(H) Hosts
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Head-to-head result: Cape Verde 0–1 Burkina Faso.
Cameroon  Flag of Cameroon.svg 2–1 Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso
Aboubakar Soccerball shade.svg40' (pen.), 45+3' (pen.) Report Sangaré Soccerball shade.svg24'
Ethiopia  Flag of Ethiopia.svg 0–1 Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde
Report J. Tavares Soccerball shade.svg45+1'

Cameroon  Flag of Cameroon.svg 4–1 Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia
Report Hotessa Soccerball shade.svg4'
Cape Verde  Flag of Cape Verde.svg 0–1 Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso
Report Bandé Soccerball shade.svg39'

Cape Verde  Flag of Cape Verde.svg 1–1 Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon
Rodrigues Soccerball shade.svg53' Report Aboubakar Soccerball shade.svg39'
Burkina Faso  Flag of Burkina Faso.svg 1–1 Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia
Bayala Soccerball shade.svg25' Report Kebede Soccerball shade.svg52' (pen.)

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 312010+15Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea 31112204 [lower-alpha 1]
3Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi 31112204 [lower-alpha 1]
4Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 31023413
Source: CAF
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Head-to-head result: Guinea 1–0 Malawi.
Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svg 1–0 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe
Mané Soccerball shade.svg90+7' (pen.) Report
Guinea  Flag of Guinea.svg 1–0 Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi
I. Sylla Soccerball shade.svg35' Report

Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svg 0–0 Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea
Report
Malawi  Flag of Malawi.svg 2–1 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe
Mhango Soccerball shade.svg43', 58' Report Wadi Soccerball shade.svg38'

Malawi  Flag of Malawi.svg 0–0 Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal
Report
Zimbabwe  Flag of Zimbabwe.svg 2–1 Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea
Report Keïta Soccerball shade.svg49'

Group C

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 321052+37Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon 312043+15
3Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros 31023523
4Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 30123521
Source: CAF
Morocco  Flag of Morocco.svg 1–0 Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana
Boufal Soccerball shade.svg83' Report
Comoros  Flag of the Comoros.svg 0–1 Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon
Report Boupendza Soccerball shade.svg16'

Morocco  Flag of Morocco.svg 2–0 Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros
Report
Gabon  Flag of Gabon.svg 1–1 Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana
Allevinah Soccerball shade.svg88' Report A. Ayew Soccerball shade.svg18'

Gabon  Flag of Gabon.svg 2–2 Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco
Report
Ghana  Flag of Ghana.svg 2–3 Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros
Report

Group D

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 330061+59Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 320121+16
3Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan 30121431
4Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau 30120331
Source: CAF
Nigeria  Flag of Nigeria.svg 1–0 Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
Iheanacho Soccerball shade.svg30' Report
Sudan  Flag of Sudan.svg 0–0 Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau
Report

Nigeria  Flag of Nigeria.svg 3–1 Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan
Report Khedr Soccerball shade.svg70' (pen.)
Guinea-Bissau  Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg 0–1 Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
Report Salah Soccerball shade.svg69'

Guinea-Bissau  Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg 0–2 Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Report
Egypt  Flag of Egypt.svg 1–0 Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan
Abdelmonem Soccerball shade.svg35' Report

Group E

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 321063+37Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea 320121+16
3Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone 30212312
4Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 30121431
Source: CAF
Algeria  Flag of Algeria.svg 0–0 Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone
Report
Equatorial Guinea  Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg 0–1 Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast
Report Gradel Soccerball shade.svg5'

Ivory Coast  Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg 2–2 Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone
Report
Algeria  Flag of Algeria.svg 0–1 Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea
Report Esteban Soccerball shade.svg70'

Ivory Coast  Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg 3–1 Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria
Report Bendebka Soccerball shade.svg73'
Sierra Leone  Flag of Sierra Leone.svg 0–1 Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea
Report Ganet Soccerball shade.svg38'

Group F

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 321041+37Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia 321031+27
3Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 310242+23
4Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania 30030770
Source: CAF
Tunisia  Flag of Tunisia.svg 0–1 Flag of Mali.svg  Mali
Report Koné Soccerball shade.svg48' (pen.)
Mauritania  Flag of Mauritania.svg 0–1 Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia
Report A. Jallow Soccerball shade.svg10'

Gambia  Flag of The Gambia.svg 1–1 Flag of Mali.svg  Mali
Mu. Barrow Soccerball shade.svg90' (pen.) Report Koné Soccerball shade.svg79' (pen.)
Tunisia  Flag of Tunisia.svg 4–0 Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania
Report

Gambia  Flag of The Gambia.svg 1–0 Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia
A. Jallow Soccerball shade.svg90+3' Report
Mali  Flag of Mali.svg 2–0 Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania
Report

Ranking of third-placed teams

PosGrpTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 A Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde 31112204Advance to knockout stage
1 B Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi 31112204
3 F Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 310242+23
4 C Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros 31023523
5 E Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone 30212312
6 D Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan 30121431
Source: CAF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Drawing of lots.

Combinations of matches in the round of 16

The specific match-ups involving the third-placed teams depended on which four third-placed teams qualified for the round of 16:

  Combination according to the four qualified teams
Third-placed teams
qualify from groups
1A
vs
1B
vs
1C
vs
1D
vs
ABCD3C3D3A3B
ABCE3C3A3B3E
ABCF3C3A3B3F
ABDE3D3A3B3E
ABDF3D3A3B3F
ABEF3E3A3B3F
ACDE3C3D3A3E
ACDF3C3D3A3F
ACEF3C3A3F3E
ADEF3D3A3F3E
BCDE3C3D3B3E
BCDF3C3D3B3F
BCEF3E3C3B3F
BDEF3E3D3B3F
CDEF3C3D3F3E

Knockout stage

In the knockout stage, extra time and a penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winner if necessary, except for the third place match, where a direct penalty shoot-out, without any extra time, was used to decide the winner if necessary (Regulations Article 75).

Bracket

 
Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
 
              
 
23 January – Limbe
 
 
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso (p)1 (7)
 
29 January – Garoua
 
Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon 1 (6)
 
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 1
 
23 January – Garoua
 
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 0
 
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 0
 
2 February – Yaoundé (Ahidjo)
 
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 1
 
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 1
 
25 January – Bafoussam
 
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 3
 
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 2
 
30 January – Yaoundé (Ahidjo)
 
Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde 0
 
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 3
 
26 January – Limbe
 
Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea 1
 
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 0 (5)
 
6 February – Yaoundé (Olembe)
 
Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea (p)0 (6)
 
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal (p)0 (4)
 
24 January – Bafoussam
 
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 0 (2)
 
Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea 0
 
29 January – Douala
 
Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia 1
 
Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia 0
 
24 January – Yaoundé (Olembe)
 
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 2
 
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 2
 
3 February – Yaoundé (Olembe)
 
Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros 1
 
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 0 (1)
 
26 January – Douala
 
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt (p)0 (3) Third place play-off
 
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 0 (4)
 
30 January – Yaoundé (Ahidjo) 5 February – Yaoundé (Ahidjo)
 
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt (p)0 (5)
 
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt (a.e.t.)2Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 3 (3)
 
25 January – Yaoundé (Ahidjo)
 
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 1 Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon (p) 3 (5)
 
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 2
 
 
Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi 1
 

Round of 16


Nigeria  Flag of Nigeria.svg 0–1 Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia
Report Msakni Soccerball shade.svg47'

Guinea  Flag of Guinea.svg 0–1 Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia
Report Mu. Barrow Soccerball shade.svg71'

Cameroon  Flag of Cameroon.svg 2–1 Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros
Report Y. M'Changama Soccerball shade.svg81'

Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svg 2–0 Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde
Report

Morocco  Flag of Morocco.svg 2–1 Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi
Report Mhango Soccerball shade.svg7'


Quarter-finals

Gambia  Flag of The Gambia.svg 0–2 Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon
Report Toko Ekambi Soccerball shade.svg50', 57'

Burkina Faso  Flag of Burkina Faso.svg 1–0 Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia
Da. Ouattara Soccerball shade.svg45+3' Report

Egypt  Flag of Egypt.svg 2–1 (a.e.t.)Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco
Report Boufal Soccerball shade.svg7' (pen.)

Semi-finals


Cameroon  Flag of Cameroon.svg 0–0 (a.e.t.)Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
Report
Penalties
1–3
Olembe Stadium, Yaoundé
Attendance: 24,371 [43]
Referee: Bakary Gassama (Gambia)

Third place play-off

Final

Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svg0–0 (a.e.t.)Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
Report
Penalties
4–2
Olembe Stadium, Yaoundé
Attendance: 48,000
Referee: Victor Gomes (South Africa)

Statistics

Goalscorers

There were 100 goals scored in 52 matches, for an average of 1.92 goals per match.

8 goals

5 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

Broadcasting

Below is the list of the 2021 AFCON broadcasting rights:

TerritoryRights holder(s)Ref.
Flag of Algeria.svg Algeria EPTV
France beIN Sports
MENA beIN Sports
Central AmericaESPN
CaribbeanESPN
South AmericaESPN
WorldCAF TV (YouTube)

Controversies

Tunisia vs. Mali refereeing

Mondher Kebaier and Jalel Kadri protesting against referee Janny Sikazwe after the controversy during the match against Mali at 2021 Afcon. Protestation des coachs tunisiens.jpg
Mondher Kebaier and Jalel Kadri protesting against referee Janny Sikazwe after the controversy during the match against Mali at 2021 Afcon.

The match between Tunisia and Mali, the first meeting of Group F, was not played to completion. Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe initially whistled the end of the match in the 86th minute before changing his mind, warned by his assistant referee and the protests of the Tunisian players. He then signaled the end of the game in the 90th minute, seconds from the end of regulation time, [45] just as the assistant referee was about to announce added time. In front of the furious Tunisians, the refereeing quartet had to leave the field under police escort.

Given the extent of the controversy, the resumption of the match, to play the remaining additional time, was announced. However, the Tunisian team refused to resume the match, claiming that the players were already in the showers, or out of the stadium, therefore unfit to resume the game. The Malians having presented themselves on the lawn, the end of the match is whistled with only one team on the ground, the result of 1–0 being ratified later by CAF. [46]

Later, it was reported by different media that the referee Janny Sikazwe had in fact suffered a sunstroke in the middle of the game, so much so that he was even taken to the hospital, from where the presence of the fourth referee on the pitch at the time of the attempt to restart the match. [47] According to the Tunisian player Wahbi Khazri, the referee of the match "was no longer coherent", "the referee lost the thread of the match" specified the Tunisian captain. "He was no longer consistent in his choices and decisions. He was very hot."

Mauritanian national anthem

Before the second match of Group F between Mauritania and Gambia, the old Mauritanian national anthem was played three times; the stadium announcer said that the Mauritanian players would sing the anthem themselves,[ citation needed ] but a third failed attempt was soon cut off after the old anthem of the country was played again. [48]

Buea shooting

In Buea, in the Southwest Region of Cameroon, gunfire broke out between the Cameroon Armed Forces and gunmen. The shooting is believed to have been between members of the Cameroon Army, deployed in large numbers during the competition, and Ambazonian separatist fighters, this incident is part of the Anglophone Crisis that has been raging since 2017 in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon. [49]

Cameroon fans crushed to death

Before the fourth match in the knockout stage between hosts Cameroon and the Comoros, which took place on 24 January 2022 at the Olembe Stadium, Cameroonian fans were crushed in a surge at the entrance. Eight deaths were recorded: two women and four men, all in their thirties, in addition to two children. [50] [51]

The ministry indicated that about 50 people were injured in the incident, including two people with multiple injuries and two others with serious head injuries, and a baby was immediately transferred to the General Hospital in Yaoundé in a medically stable condition. [52]

Relocation of matches from Japoma Stadium

Initially, Japoma Stadium in Douala was scheduled to host four matches in the knockout stage, in addition to six in the group stage. However, after the field was criticised by coaches and players alike during the group stage, the organisation committee decided mid-tournament to relocate all matches from Japoma Stadium to other stadiums such as Limbe Stadium and Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé. Djamel Belmadi, coach of defending champions, Algeria, who left the tournament in the group stages, said that "It is not of a level permitting total fluidity and what we hope for from big tournaments like the African Cup of Nations". [53]

Awards

The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament:

Man of the Competition Flag of Senegal.svg Sadio Mané [2]
Golden Boot Flag of Cameroon.svg Vincent Aboubakar (8 goals) [2]
Best Goalkeeper Flag of Senegal.svg Édouard Mendy [2]
Best Young Player Flag of Burkina Faso.svg Issa Kaboré [3]
Fair Play AwardFlag of Senegal.svg  Senegal [2]

Best XI

GoalkeeperDefendersMidfieldersForwardsCoach
Flag of Senegal.svg Édouard Mendy Flag of Morocco.svg Achraf Hakimi
Flag of Egypt.svg Mohamed Abdelmonem
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg Edmond Tapsoba
Flag of Senegal.svg Saliou Ciss
Flag of Egypt.svg Mohamed Elneny
Flag of Senegal.svg Nampalys Mendy
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg Blati Touré
Flag of Egypt.svg Mohamed Salah
Flag of Cameroon.svg Vincent Aboubakar
Flag of Senegal.svg Sadio Mané
Flag of Senegal.svg Aliou Cissé

Source: [54]

Final ranking

Matches that ended in extra time were counted as wins and defeats, while matches that ended in penalty shootout were counted as draws.

Results of the teams participating in the tournament
Champion
Runner-up
Third place
Fourth place
Quarter-finals
Round of 16
Group stage ResultadosCAN2021.png
Results of the teams participating in the tournament
  Champion
  Runner-up
  Third place
  Fourth place
  Quarter-finals
  Round of 16
  Group stage
Pos.TeamGPldWDLPtsGFGAGD
1Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal B74301592+7
2Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt D73311242+2
3Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon A743015147+7
4Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso A72329910−1
Eliminated in the quarter-finals
5Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco C53111085+3
6Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia F53111043+1
7Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea E5212734−1
8Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia F5203653+2
Eliminated in the round of 16
9Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria D4301962+4
10Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast E4220863+3
11Flag of Mali.svg  Mali F4220841+3
12Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon C4130654+1
13Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi B4112434−1
14Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea B4112423−1
15Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde A4112424−2
16Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros C4103347−3
eliminated in the group stage
17Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe B3102334−1
18Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone E3021223−1
19Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana C3012135−2
20Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria E3012114−3
21Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan D3012114−3
22Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau D3012103−3
23Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia A3012126−4
24Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania F3003007−7

Notes

  1. The Mauritania v Gambia match was originally scheduled to kick-off at 17:00, but was delayed to 17:45 due to timing issues in the Tunisia v Mali match.
  2. The Egypt v Morocco match was originally scheduled to kick-off at 17:00, but was rescheduled to 16:00.
  3. The match was originally due to be held at Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé, but was relocated due to the investigation into the Yaoundé stadium disaster. [38] [39] [40]
  4. 1 2 The match was originally due to be held at Japoma Stadium in Douala, but was relocated. [40] [41] [42]
  5. The match was originally due to be held on 6 February 2022 at 17:00, but was rescheduled due to security and convenience reasons. [44]

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