The draw for the next African Cup of Nations (CAN) took place on Tuesday 17/08/2021 at the Palais des congrès of Yaoundé (Cameroon), host country of the competition from 9 January to 6 February 2022.
Which nation will succeed Algeria, winner of the competition in 2019 ? Scheduled last June, the draw of the CAN 2021 has been postponed to this Tuesday, August 17. The 24 teams qualified for the final stage now know their opponents and their group.
As in 2019, the 24 selections will be divided into six groups of four teams. Four hats have been established based on the latest FIFA ranking, which dates from August 12. Cameroon, the host country, will have to challenge Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Cape Verde on its land. Senegal, runners-up in the last edition, will play against Zimbabwe, Guinea and Malawi.
Morocco inherits the group of death for this group stage. The Atlas Lions will face Ghana, Comoros and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Gabon. In Group D, a clash between Nigeria and Egypt is to be expected, with Sudan and Guinea-Bissau. Algeria, the reigning African champions, will play in Group E with Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire. Finally, Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania and the Gambia complete the final Group F.
CAN groups
Group A: Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Cape Verde
Group B: Senegal, Zimbabwe, Guinea, Malawi
Group C: Morocco, Ghana, Comoros, Gabon
Group D: Nigeria, Egypt, Sudan, Guinea-Bissau
Group E: Algeria, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, Côte d’ivoire
Group F: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Gambia