Fixture dates, venues: What you need to to know about AFCON 2022

The 33rd Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), originally scheduled to hold in June and July 2021, will be played in Cameroon between January 9 and February 6, 2022.

Cameroon, the hosts, will take on Burkina Faso in the opening fixture at the new 60,000-seat Olembe Stadium in Yaounde, while Algeria, who would be looking to retain their 2019 crown, must conquer Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Sierra Leone in group E.

The Augustine Eguavoen tutored Super Eagles side will also have Egypt and Sudan to subdue if they are keen to emulate the success of the 2013 winning team.

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

4pm: Cameroon v Burkina Faso
7pm: Ethiopia v Cape Verde

January 10: Matchday 2 on Monday

1pm: Senegal v Zimbabwe
4pm: Guinea v Malawi
4pm: Morocco v Ghana
7pm: Comoros v Gabon

January 11: Matchday 3 on Tuesday

1pm: Algeria v Sierra Leone
4pm: Nigeria v Egypt
7pm: Sudan v Guinea Bissau

January 12: Matchday 4 on Wednesday

1pm: Tunisia v Mali
4pm: Mauritania v Gambia
7pm: 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

1pm: Senegal v Guinea
4pm: Malawi v Zimbabwe
4pm: Morocco v Comoros
7pm: Gabon v Ghana

January 15: Matchday 7

4pm: Nigeria v Sudan
7pm: Guinea Bissau v Egypt

January 16: Matchday 8

1pm: Gambia v Mali
4pm: Ivory Coast v Sierra Leone
4pm: Tunisia v Mauritania
7pm: Algeria v Equitoria Guinea
Round of three — last group games;

January 17: Matchday 9

4pm: Burkina Faso v Ethiopia
4pm: Cape Verde v Cameroon

January 18: Matchday 10

4pm: Malawi v Senegal
4pm: Zimbabwe v Guinea
7pm: Gabon v Morocco
7pm: Ghana v Comoros

January 19: Matchday 11

7pm: Egypt v Sudan
7pm: Guinea Bissau v Nigeria

January 20: Matchday 12

4pm: Ivory Coast v Algeria
4pm: Sierra Leone v Equatorial Guinea
7pm: Gambia v Tunisia
7pm: Mali v Mauritania

Round of 16

January 23

4pm: 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

4pm: 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

7pm: Winner Group F vs Runner-up Group E at Limbe Stadium, Limbe

Quarterfinals Pairings;

Quarter-Final B: January 29

4pm: Winner R16-M4 vs Winner R16-M3 at Japoma Stadium, Douala

Quarter-Final A: January 29

7pm: 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

7pm: Winner R16-M5 vs Winner R16-M8 at Japoma Stadium, Douala

Semifinal Pairings;

SF 1: February 2

7pm: 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

5pm: Loser SF1 vs Loser SF2 at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé

Final: February 6

7pm: Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2 at Olembe Stadium, Yaoundé