When is AFCON 2022 starting? Africa Cup of Nations start and end dates

Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) is given the green signal to be held in Cameroon despite having some doubts regarding it due to the ongoing pandemic. And we at Alley Sport would give the information on When is AFCON 2022 starting? Africa Cup of Nations start and end dates

When is AFCON 2022 starting?: Image Credits-Getty
When is AFCON 2022 starting?: Image Credits-Getty

The hosts, Cameroon, and the defending champions, Algeria, are among the favourites in an Afcon that bookmakers are finding tough to predict. With 10 teams battling for five spots in Qatar for the 2022 World Cup, qualifying in Africa is far from done, but it has provided some insight into the continent’s best sides.

When is AFCON 2022 starting?

The draw for the World Cup qualifiers will take place on January 26th, while the Afcon, which will feature 24 countries, will begin on January 9th. Cameroon takes against Burkina Faso in the tournament opener at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde, which will also host the final on February 6.

When is AFCON 2022 starting?: Image Credits-Getty
When is AFCON 2022 starting?: Image Credits-Getty

What is the AFCON 2022 schedule?

The 24 teams are divided into six groups, similar to the current European Championship structure, with the champions and runners-up, as well as the four best third-placed teams, advancing to the round of 16.

Group A

  • 9 January: Cameroon vs Burkina Faso
  • 9 January: Ethiopia vs Cape Verde
  • 13 January: Cameroon vs Ethiopia
  • 13 January: Cape Verde vs Burkina Faso
  • 17 January: Cape Verde vs Cameroon
  • 17 January: Burkina Faso vs Ethiopia

Group B

  • 10 January: Senegal vs Zimbabwe
  • 10 January: Guinea vs Malawi
  • 14 January: Senegal vs Guinea
  • 14 January: Malawi vs Zimbabwe
  • 18 January: Malawi vs Senegal
  • 18 January: Zimbabwe vs Guinea

Group C

  • 10 January: Morocco vs Ghana
  • 10 January: Comoros vs Gabon
  • 14 January: Morocco vs Comoros
  • 14 January: Gabon vs Ghana
  • 18 January: Gabon vs Morocco
  • 18 January: Ghana vs Comoros

Group D

  • 11 January: Nigeria vs Egypt
  • 11 January: Sudan vs Guinea-Bissau
  • 15 January: Nigeria vs Sudan
  • 15 January: Guinea-Bissau vs Egypt
  • 19 January: Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria
  • 19 January: Egypt vs Sudan

Group E

  • 11 January: Algeria vs Sierra Leone  
  • 11 January: Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast
  • 15 January: Ivory Coast vs Sierra Leone  
  • 15 January: Algeria vs Equatorial Guinea
  • 19 January: Ivory Coast vs Algeria
  • 19 January: Sierra Leone vs Equatorial Guinea

Group F

  • 12 January: Tunisia vs Mali
  • 12 January: Mauritania vs Gambia
  • 16 January: Gambia vs Mali
  • 16 January: Tunisia vs Mauritania
  • 20 January: Gambia vs Tunisia
  • 20 January: Mali vs Mauritania
When is AFCON 2022 starting?: Image Credits-Getty
When is AFCON 2022 starting?: Image Credits-Getty

Knockout schedule

Round of 16

  • 23 January: Runner-up Group A vs Runner-up Group C (1)
  • 23 January: Winner Group D vs 3rd Group B/E/F (2)
  • 24 January: Runner-up Group B vs Runner-up Group F (5)
  • 24 January: Winner Group A vs 3rd Group C/D/E (6)
  • 25 January: Winner Group B vs 3rd Group A/C/D (3)
  • 25 January: Winner Group C vs 3rd Group A/B/F (8)
  • 26 January: Winner Group E vs Runner-up Group D (7)
  • 26 January: Winner Group F vs Runner-up Group E (4)

Quarter-final

  • 29 January: Winners Rof16 1 vs 2 (QF1)
  • 29 January: Winners Rof16 5 vs 6 (QF3)
  • 30 January: Winners of Rof16 3 vs 4 (QF2)
  • 30 January: Winners of Rof16 7 vs 8 (QF4)

Semi-final

  • 2 February: Winners of QF 1 vs 2
  • 3 February: Winners of QF 3 vs 4

Third-place play-off & Final – 6 February

How to watch AFCON 2022

In the United Kingdom, the Africa Cup of Nations will be televised on both the BBC and Sky Sports.

Sky Sports will broadcast all 52 games live, and the BBC has agreed to broadcast 10 games, including the two quarter-finals, both semi-finals, and the final. As part of the contract, the BBC will have digital clips on social media.

When is AFCON 2022 starting?: Image Credits-Getty
When is AFCON 2022 starting?: Image Credits-Getty

Premier League players at AFCON 2022

Up to 40 players from England’s top division are expected to participate in the Afcon, including Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez, and Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy. Hakim Ziyech, on the other hand, will not be attending after being dropped out of Morocco’s squad.

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