In depth

Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in Cameroon

Postponed twice due to Covid-19, the 33rd edition of CAN will at long last be held in Cameroon from 9 January to 6 February.

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calendar of champions

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AFCON Africa Cup of Nations: Results and Fixtures list

The full programme of all the matches for the 33rd edition of the African Cup of Nations, which takes place in Cameroon from 9 January to 6 February 2022. Plus all the scores. Updated daily.

Nigeria and Villarreal's Samuel Chukwueze in action

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wing man

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AFCON: Can Samuel Chukwueze help Nigeria beat Egypt?

Nigeria faces Egypt and the mighty Mo Salah in today's clash in the Africa Cup of Nations at 5pm Cameroon time. But Nigeria are no slouches in attack themselves; forward Samuel Chukwueze has been in form for both Villarreal and Nigeria.

Africa Cup of Nations - Group A - Cameroon v Burkina Faso

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kick off

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Africa Cup of Nations a chance for Biya to unite Cameroon

Cameroon has not hosted the Africa Cup of Nations since the 1972. Optimists hope the goodwill generated by the tournament can be used to foster national unity, with the south west of the country still mired in violence.

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team talent

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Africa Cup of Nations: Andre Onana, Sebastien Haller, Bamba Dieng… Six players to watch

Here are six particularly promising players to watch closely during the 2022 African Cup of Nations: André Onana (Cameroon), Sébastien Haller (Côte d'Ivoire), Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia), Bamba Dieng (Senegal), Saïd Benrahma (Algeria), Ayoub El Kaabi (Morocco).

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Stuck in the middle

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CAN: Senegal’s Ismaïla Sarr is at the heart of a tug of war between Aliou Cissé and Claudio Ranieri

Claudio Ranieri, coach of the British club Watford, is still refusing to allow his Senegalese striker Ismaïla Sarr to play in the African Cup of Nations, which opens on 9 January in Cameroon. This attitude has been denounced by Aliou Cissé, the coach of the "Lions de la Teranga", but also by several high-profile African football players, including Samuel Eto'o.

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Twice delayed?

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Football: Eto’o angered about possible delay of AFCON

As reports claiming that the AFCON will be postponed circulate, Samuel Eto'o has expressed his exasperation. The former international football star has just been elected head of the Cameroon Football Federation and says he will “devote all his energy to ensuring that this African Cup of Nations is held.”

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wenger's world

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Football: Should the African Cup of Nations be held every four years?

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) supports FIFA's plan to hold the World Cup every two years, which could affect - for better or worse - how often the African Cup of Nations takes place.

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can i kick it?

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Football: Cameroon starts countdown to Africa Cup of Nations 2021

Cameroon will be hosting the next Africa Cup of Nations, which is due to kick-off in January 2022.

Sebastien Haller joined the Ivorian national team in November 2020

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goodbye blues

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AFCON Côte d’Ivoire: Why Sebastien Haller preferred the Elephants to France

Sebastien Haller, the Franco-Ivorian striker from Ajax Amsterdam was eligible for selection for the French national team. But in 2020, he has chosen to wear the Ivorian jersey.

A Gambia supporter waves a flag before the Group F Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 football match between Mauritania and Gambia at Limbe Omnisport Stadium in Limbe on January 12, 2022.

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bring a friend

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AFCON in Cameroon: Why the stadiums remain empty

The exceptional atmosphere of the opening match of the African Cup of Nations has died down and the host country is struggling to fill its stands. Several obstacles have dampened the enthusiasm of the fans...

Mali's Adama "Malouda" Traore, right, jumps up to avoid a slide tackle by Tunisia's Bilel Ifa, during the African Cup of Nations 2022 group F soccer match between Tunisia and Mali at the Limbe Omnisport Stadium in Limbe, Cameroon, Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022.

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from congo to cold bath

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AFCON: Mali’s Adama Traoré – The TP Mazembe trampoline

Adama Traore of Mali, who now plays in Moldova, made his name during his long stay at TP Mazembe, from 2013 to 2018. The striker is also one of the big guns of his national team, which faces Mauritania on Sunday at the AFCON Africa Cup of Nations, held in Cameroon.

Vincent Aboubakar during the Cameroon-Burkina Faso African Cup of Nations match at the Paul Biya stadium on 9 January 2022

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shot monster

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AFCON Cameroon: Can Vincent Aboubakar be a star at home?

Cameroon's striker Vincent Aboubakar, who scored both goals in the opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations against Burkina Faso (2-1), does not have the same aura as his illustrious predecessors Milla, Omam-Biyik, Mboma or Eto'o.

Arsenal's Thomas Partey heads the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates stadium in London, Friday, Apr 23, 2021. (

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mountain climber

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AFCON Ghana look to Partey after gloomy start

The national outcry at Ghana’s poor start, amplified by the 1-1 draw with Gabon on Friday night, has become entangled with a sense that the Black Stars' most expensive player, Thomas Partey, is once again failing to make the expected impact.

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turning point?

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AFCON Algeria in must-win match against Côte d’Ivoire

Algeria will have to win against Côte d'Ivoire on Thursday in Douala if they want to extend their run in Cameroon, where they finished last in the group with just one point after two matches. If not, it will imitate the 1992 team, eliminated in the first round, two years after winning the CAN...

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home advantage

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AFCON: Cameroon’s Patrick Mboma says ‘The Indomitable Lions are a pleasure to watch!’

Former captain of the Indomitable Lions (56 caps, 33 goals) and two times winner of the CAN in 2000 and 2002, Patrick Mboma is following with interest the performance of his former team.

The Olembe stadium, in Yaounde, Cameroon

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ball rolling

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Cameroon: What will happen to the stadiums after the AFCON?

Who will finance the maintenance of the stadiums once Cameroon's African Cup of Nations (AFCON) is over? Headed by Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, the powerful secretary-general of the presidency, the task force in charge of organising the African Cup of Nations has sent Paul Biya to begin a project for the management of sports infrastructures once the competition is over.

Africa Cup of Nations - Group E - Ivory Coast v Algeria

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midfield metronome

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AFCON: Ibrahim Sangaré tipped to push Côte d’Ivoire to victory

With Ghana, Algeria and Nigeria all out of the tournament, and Senegal having stuttered unconvincingly in the group phase, Côte D’Ivoire seemed to be the most balanced of the bigger teams initially tipped to succeed. Much of that has to do with the midfield mix offered by Franck Kessie, Jean Michael Seri and – the least experienced of the trio – Ibrahim Sangaré.

Sarah, 20, reacts while watching a Guinea counter-attack against Algeria on screen during the Africa Cup of Nations 2019 (Afcon), in Algiers

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level up

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AFCON: Cameroon, Gambia surprise, Morocco vs Egypt in quarter-finals

The round of 16 of the 2021 African Cup of Nations saw the favourites Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire fail to qualify, while Cameroon, Morocco and Senegal all qualified with difficulty. Gambia and Equatorial Guinea, for their part, eliminated Guinea and Mali.

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Teranga lions

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AFCON Can Sadio Mané fire Senegal to the top?

Senegal's squad is slowly but surely making their way to the last four of the 2021 AFCON African Cup of Nations. They will first have to beat the surprisingly tough Equatorial Guinea in the quarter finals in Yaounde on Sunday 30 January.

Africa Cup of Nations - Quarter Final - Egypt v Morocco

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AFCON: Salah inspires Egypt into semi-final showdown

Two decisive moments from Mohamed Salah were enough to propel Egypt into their 16th AFCON semi-final and send Morocco reeling on Sunday.

Brazil's Alex Sandro, left, and Senegal's Ismaila Sarr in action during the Brazil Global Tour 2019 international friendly soccer match between Brazil and Senegal

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strike force

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AFCON Senegal/Burkina Faso: Sarr VS Koffi, the battle of the semi-final

Brilliant and several times decisive since the beginning of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Burkina Faso goalkeeper Hervé Koffi will have a lot of work to do Wednesday evening against the Senegalese striker. And in particular Ismaïla Sarr, who scored when coming on as a substitute against Equatorial Guinea.

Africa Cup of Nations - Quarter Final - Gambia v Cameroon

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On the pitch

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AFCON Cameroon/Egypt: Semi-final risks spiralling into a stagnant midfield battle

There is a risk of tonight’s semi-final shown between AFCON's two most successful teams degenerating into a stagnant midfield battle. If it does, much will depend on whether Mohamed Elneny or Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa gains the upper hand.

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flying start

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AFCON Gambia: ‘We can be proud of our performance’ – coach Saintfiet

The Gambia participated in the first finals of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in their history, reaching the quarterfinals. They were beaten but with not without a fight, by Cameroon (0-2). Tom Saintfiet, the Belgian coach of the Scorpions, spoke about their surprising journey and the experience of the Gambian team in the country of the Indomitable Lions.

Africa Cup of Nations - Final - Senegal v Egypt

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Mighty Lions of Teranga roar

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AFCON: Senegal wins against Egypt in penalty shootout

After losing two finals, in 2002 and 2019, the Lions of Teranga became the African champions for the first time in their history, defeating the Pharaohs on penalties (4-2) following a 0-0 draw.

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A game

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Sadio Mané, the decisive player in Senegal’s victory

On Sunday night, Senegal became African champions for the first time in their history after they defeated Egypt (0-0, 4-2 on aggregate). Sadio Mané, who was voted best player of the AFCON, played a key role. The striker of the Lions of Teranga lived up to his potential in Cameroon.

The In Depth Collection