2021 Africa Cup of Nations

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]

"2022 Africa Cup of Nations" redirects here. For the women's tournament, see 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations.

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

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]

Algeria were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the first round after finishing bottom of their group.[8] Senegal won a 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:

  • Algeria
  • Guinea
  • Ivory Coast

Rejected bids:

  • DR Congo
  • Gabon
  • Zambia

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
Main article: 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Qualified teams

The following teams qualified for the tournament.

Team Method of
qualification		 Date of
qualification		 Finals
appearance		 Last
appearance		 Previous best
performance		 FIFA ranking
at start of event
 CameroonHosts / Group F winners8 January 201920th2019Winners (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017)50
 SenegalGroup I winners15 November 202016th2019Runners-up (2002, 2019)20
 AlgeriaGroup H winners16 November 202019th2019Winners (1990, 2019)29
 MaliGroup A winners17 November 202012th2019Runners-up (1972)53
 TunisiaGroup J winners17 November 202020th2019Winners (2004)30
 Burkina FasoGroup B winners24 March 202112th2017Runners-up (2013)60
 GuineaGroup A runners-up24 March 202113th2019Runners-up (1976)81
 ComorosGroup G runners-up25 March 20211stNoneDebut132
 GabonGroup D runners-up25 March 20218th2017Quarter-finals (1996, 2012)89
 GambiaGroup D winners25 March 20211stNoneDebut150
 EgyptGroup G winners25 March 202125th2019Winners (1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010)45
 GhanaGroup C winners25 March 202123rd2019Winners (1963, 1965, 1978, 1982)52
 Equatorial GuineaGroup J runners-up25 March 20213rd2015Fourth place (2015)114
 ZimbabweGroup H runners-up25 March 20215th2019Group stage (2004, 2006, 2017, 2019)121
 Ivory CoastGroup K winners26 March 202124th2019Winners (1992, 2015)56
 MoroccoGroup E winners26 March 202118th2019Winners (1976)28
 NigeriaGroup L winners27 March 202119th2019Winners (1980, 1994, 2013)36
 SudanGroup C runners-up28 March 20219th2012Winners (1970)125
 MalawiGroup B runners-up29 March 20213rd2010Group stage (1984, 2010)129
 EthiopiaGroup K runners-up30 March 202111th2013Winners (1962)137
 MauritaniaGroup E runners-up30 March 20212nd2019Group stage (2019)103
 Guinea-BissauGroup I runners-up30 March 20213rd2019Group stage (2017, 2019)106
 Cape VerdeGroup F runners-up30 March 20213rd2015Quarter-finals (2013)73
 Sierra LeoneGroup L runners-up15 June 20213rd1996Group 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
  • Algeria Abdelhak Etchiali
  • Algeria Mokrane Gourari
  • Angola Jerson Emiliano dos Santos
  • Burkina Faso Seydou Tiama
  • Cameroon Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue
  • Cameroon Carine Atezambong Fomo
  • Chad Issa Yaya
  • Comoros Soulaimane Almadine
  • Egypt Mahmoud Ahmed Abouelregal
  • Egypt Ahmed Hossam Taha
  • Guinea Sidiki Sidibe
  • Djibouti Liban Abdourazak Ahmed
  • Kenya Gilbert Cheruiyot
  • Lesotho Souru Phatsoane
  • Libya Attia Amsaaed
  • Madagascar Lionel Andrianantenaina
  • Morocco Mustapha Akarkad
  • Morocco Lahcen Azgaou
  • Morocco Zakaria Brinsi
  • Morocco Fatiha Jermoumi
  • Mozambique Arsenio Maringula
  • Niger Mahamadou Yahaya
  • Nigeria Samuel Pwadutakam
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo Olivier Safari
  • Senegal Djibril Camara
  • Senegal El Hadj Malick Samba
  • Seychelles James Fredrick Emile
  • South Africa Zakhele Siwela
  • Sudan Mohammed Abdallah Ibrahim
  • Tunisia Khalil Hassani
  • Uganda Dick Okello

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 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4

 Cameroon (54) (hosts)
 Algeria (30) (title holders)
 Senegal (21)
 Tunisia (28)
 Morocco (32)
 Nigeria (34)

 Egypt (46)
 Ghana (52)
 Ivory Coast (57)
 Mali (60)
 Burkina Faso (62)
 Guinea (76)

 Cape Verde (77)
 Gabon (85)
 Mauritania (100)
 Sierra Leone (106)
 Zimbabwe (108)
 Guinea-Bissau (109)

 Malawi (118)
 Sudan (121)
 Equatorial Guinea (132)
 Comoros (133)
 Ethiopia (137)
 Gambia (148)

Venues

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]

 Douala Yaoundé
Japoma Stadium Olembe Stadium Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium
Capacity: 50,000 Capacity: 60,000 Capacity: 42,500
Garoua Bafoussam Limbe
Roumdé Adjia Stadium Kouekong Stadium Limbe Stadium
Capacity: 30,000 Capacity: 20,000 Capacity: 20,000

Opening ceremony
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
Main article: 2021 Africa Cup of Nations squads

Group stage

The top two teams of each group, along with the best four third-placed teams, advanced to the round of 16. All times are local, WAT (UTC+1).

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
Main article: 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Group A
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Cameroon (H) 3 2 1 0 7 3 +4 7 Advance to knockout stage
2  Burkina Faso 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 4[lower-alpha 1]
3  Cape Verde 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4[lower-alpha 1]
4  Ethiopia 3 0 1 2 2 6 −4 1
Source: CAF
(H) Hosts
Notes:
  1. Head-to-head result: Cape Verde 0–1 Burkina Faso.
Cameroon 2–1 Burkina Faso
Aboubakar 40' (pen.), 45+3' (pen.) Report Sangaré 24'
Ethiopia 0–1 Cape Verde
Report J. Tavares 45+1'
Referee: Hélder Martins de Carvalho (Angola)
Cameroon 4–1 Ethiopia
 Report Hotessa 4'
Referee: Jean Jacques Ndala Ngambo (DR Congo)
Cape Verde 0–1 Burkina Faso
Report Bandé 39'
Referee: Amin Omar (Egypt)
Cape Verde 1–1 Cameroon
Rodrigues 53' Report Aboubakar 39'
Referee: Sadok Selmi (Tunisia)
Burkina Faso 1–1 Ethiopia
Bayala 25' Report Kebede 52' (pen.)
Referee: Ahmad Heeralall (Mauritius)

Group B
Main article: 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Group B
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Senegal 3 1 2 0 1 0 +1 5 Advance to knockout stage
2  Guinea 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4[lower-alpha 1]
3  Malawi 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4[lower-alpha 1]
4  Zimbabwe 3 1 0 2 3 4 −1 3
Source: CAF
Notes:
  1. Head-to-head result: Guinea 1–0 Malawi.
Senegal 1–0 Zimbabwe
Mané 90+7' (pen.) Report
Guinea 1–0 Malawi
I. Sylla 35' Report
Senegal 0–0 Guinea
Report
Malawi 2–1 Zimbabwe
Mhango 43', 58' Report Wadi 38'
Referee: Dahane Beida (Mauritania)
Malawi 0–0 Senegal
Report
Referee: Blaise Yuven Ngwa (Cameroon)
Zimbabwe 2–1 Guinea
 Report Keïta 49'

Group C
Main article: 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Group C
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Morocco 3 2 1 0 5 2 +3 7 Advance to knockout stage
2  Gabon 3 1 2 0 4 3 +1 5
3  Comoros 3 1 0 2 3 5 −2 3
4  Ghana 3 0 1 2 3 5 −2 1
Source: CAF
Morocco 1–0 Ghana
Boufal 83' Report
Referee: Joshua Bondo (Botswana)
Comoros 0–1 Gabon
Report Boupendza 16'
Referee: Peter Waweru (Kenya)
Morocco 2–0 Comoros
 Report
Referee: Sadok Selmi (Tunisia)
Gabon 1–1 Ghana
Allevinah 88' Report A. Ayew 18'
Referee: Lahlou Benbraham (Algeria)
Gabon 2–2 Morocco
 Report
Referee: Dahane Beida (Mauritania)
Ghana 2–3 Comoros
 Report
Referee: Boubou Traore (Mali)

Group D
Main article: 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Group D
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Nigeria 3 3 0 0 6 1 +5 9 Advance to knockout stage
2  Egypt 3 2 0 1 2 1 +1 6
3  Sudan 3 0 1 2 1 4 −3 1
4  Guinea-Bissau 3 0 1 2 0 3 −3 1
Source: CAF
Nigeria 1–0 Egypt
Iheanacho 30' Report
Sudan 0–0 Guinea-Bissau
Report
Referee: Issa Sy (Senegal)
Nigeria 3–1 Sudan
 Report Khedr 70' (pen.)
Guinea-Bissau 0–1 Egypt
Report Salah 69'
Referee: Pacifique Ndabihawenimana (Burundi)
Guinea-Bissau 0–2 Nigeria
Report
Referee: Peter Waweru (Kenya)
Egypt 1–0 Sudan
Abdelmonem 35' Report
Referee: Joshua Bondo (Botswana)

Group E
Main article: 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Group E
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Ivory Coast 3 2 1 0 6 3 +3 7 Advance to knockout stage
2  Equatorial Guinea 3 2 0 1 2 1 +1 6
3  Sierra Leone 3 0 2 1 2 3 −1 2
4  Algeria 3 0 1 2 1 4 −3 1
Source: CAF
Algeria 0–0 Sierra Leone
Report
Referee: Ahmad Imetehaz Heeralall (Mauritius)
Equatorial Guinea 0–1 Ivory Coast
Report Gradel 5'
Referee: Rédouane Jiyed (Morocco)
Ivory Coast 2–2 Sierra Leone
 Report
Algeria 0–1 Equatorial Guinea
Report Esteban 70'
Ivory Coast 3–1 Algeria
 Report Bendebka 73'
Sierra Leone 0–1 Equatorial Guinea
Report Ganet 38'
Referee: Mohamed Marouf Eid Mansour (Egypt)

Group F
Main article: 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Group F
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Mali 3 2 1 0 4 1 +3 7 Advance to knockout stage
2  Gambia 3 2 1 0 3 1 +2 7
3  Tunisia 3 1 0 2 4 2 +2 3
4  Mauritania 3 0 0 3 0 7 −7 0
Source: CAF
Tunisia 0–1 Mali
Report Koné 48' (pen.)
Mauritania 0–1 Gambia
Report A. Jallow 10'
Gambia 1–1 Mali
Mu. Barrow 90' (pen.) Report Koné 79' (pen.)
Referee: Samir Guezzaz (Morocco)
Tunisia 4–0 Mauritania
 Report
Referee: Mahmoud El Banna (Egypt)
Gambia 1–0 Tunisia
A. Jallow 90+3' Report
Mali 2–0 Mauritania
 Report

Ranking of third-placed teams
Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 A  Cape Verde 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4 Advance to knockout stage
1 B  Malawi 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4
3 F  Tunisia 3 1 0 2 4 2 +2 3
4 C  Comoros 3 1 0 2 3 5 −2 3
5 E  Sierra Leone 3 0 2 1 2 3 −1 2
6 D  Sudan 3 0 1 2 1 4 −3 1
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
Main article: 2021 Africa Cup of Nations 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 16Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
              
 
23 January – Limbe
 
 
 Burkina Faso (p)1 (7)
 
29 January – Garoua
 
 Gabon1 (6)
 
 Burkina Faso1
 
23 January – Garoua
 
 Tunisia0
 
 Nigeria0
 
2 February – Yaoundé (Ahidjo)
 
 Tunisia1
 
 Burkina Faso1
 
25 January – Bafoussam
 
 Senegal3
 
 Senegal2
 
30 January – Yaoundé (Ahidjo)
 
 Cape Verde0
 
 Senegal3
 
26 January – Limbe
 
 Equatorial Guinea1
 
 Mali0 (5)
 
6 February – Yaoundé (Olembe)
 
 Equatorial Guinea (p)0 (6)
 
 Senegal (p)0 (4)
 
24 January – Bafoussam
 
 Egypt0 (2)
 
 Guinea0
 
29 January – Douala
 
 Gambia1
 
 Gambia0
 
24 January – Yaoundé (Olembe)
 
 Cameroon2
 
 Cameroon2
 
3 February – Yaoundé (Olembe)
 
 Comoros1
 
 Cameroon0 (1)
 
26 January – Douala
 
 Egypt (p)0 (3) Third place play-off
 
 Ivory Coast0 (4)
 
30 January – Yaoundé (Ahidjo)5 February – Yaoundé (Ahidjo)
 
 Egypt (p)0 (5)
 
 Egypt (a.e.t.)2 Burkina Faso3 (3)
 
25 January – Yaoundé (Ahidjo)
 
 Morocco1  Cameroon (p) 3 (5)
 
 Morocco2
 
 
 Malawi1
 

Round of 16
Burkina Faso 1–1 (a.e.t.) Gabon
B. Traoré 28' Report Guira 90+1' (o.g.)
Penalties
 7–6
Referee: Rédouane Jiyed (Morocco)
Nigeria 0–1 Tunisia
Report Msakni 47'
Guinea 0–1 Gambia
Report Mu. Barrow 71'
Referee: Amin Omar (Egypt)
Cameroon 2–1 Comoros
 Report Y. M'Changama 81'
Senegal 2–0 Cape Verde
 Report
Referee: Lahlou Benbraham (Algeria)
Morocco 2–1 Malawi
 Report Mhango 7'
Referee: Pacifique Ndabihawenimana (Burundi)
Ivory Coast 0–0 (a.e.t.) Egypt
Report
Penalties
 4–5
Referee: Jean Jacques Ndala Ngambo (DR Congo)
Mali 0–0 (a.e.t.) Equatorial Guinea
Report
Penalties
 5–6

Quarter-finals
Gambia 0–2 Cameroon
Report Toko Ekambi 50', 57'
Attendance: 36,259[37]
Referee: Pacifique Ndabihawenimana (Burundi)
Burkina Faso 1–0 Tunisia
Da. Ouattara 45+3' Report
Referee: Joshua Bondo (Botswana)
Egypt 2–1 (a.e.t.) Morocco
 Report Boufal 7' (pen.)
Senegal 3–1 Equatorial Guinea
 Report Buyla 57'

Semi-finals
Burkina Faso 1–3 Senegal
Touré 82' Report
Cameroon 0–0 (a.e.t.) Egypt
Report
Penalties
 1–3
Attendance: 24,371[43]

Third place play-off
Burkina Faso 3–3 Cameroon
 Report
Penalties
 3–5
Referee: Rédouane Jiyed (Morocco)

Final
Main article: 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Final
Senegal 0–0 (a.e.t.) Egypt
Report
Penalties
 4–2
Attendance: 48,000

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:[45]

Territory Rights holder(s) Ref.
AlgeriaAlgeria EPTV [46]
Brazil Rede Bandeirantes [45]
Cameroon CRTV [47]
France beIN Sports [45]
Germany Sportdigital [45]
Italy Discovery Channel [45]
Portugal Canal 11 [48]
United Kingdom
[45]
Sub-Saharan Africa
[45]
MENA beIN Sports [45]
Asia-Pacific
North America
Latin America ESPN [45]
Northern Europe NENT [45]
Southeastern Europe Sportklub [45]
World CAF TV (YouTube) [45]

Controversies

Tunisia vs. Mali refereeing

In the first match of Group F between Tunisia and Mali, Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe ended the match in the 85th minute before changing his mind. He then signalled the end of the match in the 89th minute without calculating overtime, which would have been significant due to the large number of changes (9 changes between the two teams) and double verification of the video assistant referee.[49]

However, the referee announced the return of the match after 25 minutes of stopping to complete 3 minutes, with the Tunisian team refusing to complete it. A forensic report stated that Sikazwe suffered heat stroke, which contributed to his mishandling of the match.[50]

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, but a third failed attempt was soon cut off after the old anthem of the country was played again.[51]

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.[52]

Cameroon fans stampede
Main article: Yaoundé stadium disaster

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, a stampede broke out among the Cameroonian fans. Eight deaths were recorded: two women and four men, all in their thirties, in addition to two children.[53][54]

The ministry indicated that about 50 people were injured in the stampede, 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.[55]

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".[56]

Awards

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

Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards Coach
Senegal Édouard Mendy Morocco Achraf Hakimi
Egypt Mohamed Abdelmonem
Burkina Faso Edmond Tapsoba
Senegal Saliou Ciss		 Egypt Mohamed Elneny
Senegal Nampalys Mendy
Burkina Faso Blati Touré		 Egypt Mohamed Salah
Cameroon Vincent Aboubakar
Senegal Sadio Mané		 Senegal Aliou Cissé

Source:[58]

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. 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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