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

by Atawaris Warsi · January 3, 2022

When is AFCON 2022 starting?

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

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.

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

Knockout schedule

Round of 16

23 January: Runner-up Group A vs Runner-up Group C (1)
23 January: Winner Group D vs 3^rd Group B/E/F (2)
24 January: Runner-up Group B vs Runner-up Group F (5)
24 January: Winner Group A vs 3^rd Group C/D/E (6)
25 January: Winner Group B vs 3^rd Group A/C/D (3)
25 January: Winner Group C vs 3^rd 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.

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.

Comment on “When is AFCON 2022 starting? Africa Cup of Nations start and end dates” and let us know your thoughts.

For More stories like When is AFCON 2022 starting? Africa Cup of Nations start and end dates, click here.