2021 Africa Cup of Nations

[Lineker]

GROUP A
 CAMEROON (hosts)
 BURKINA FASO
 CAPE VERDE
 ETHIOPIA

GROUP B
 SENEGAL
 ZIMBABWE
 GUINEA
 MALAWI

GROUP C
 MOROCCO
 GHANA
 GABON
 COMOROS

GROUP D
 EGYPT
 NIGERIA
 SUDAN
 GUINEA-BISSAU

GROUP E
 ALGERIA
 IVORY COAST
 SIERRA LEONE
 EQUATORIAL GUINEA

GROUP F
 TUNISIA
 MALI
 GAMBIA
 MAURITANIA

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• The top two teams of each group, along with the best four third-placed teams, advance to the round of 16.
• The tournament runs 9^th January – 6^th February.
• Sky Sports is the main broadcaster for the Africa Cup of Nations in the UK, having agreed a deal to show all 52 games live. The BBC have also negotiated to show ten games as part of their coverage that includes two quarter-finals, both semi-finals, and the final.

---

2021 Africa Cup of Nations squads

[METALMAN]

So Afcon is 24 teams now too? Sad.

[Lineker]

This gets underway in a couple of hours time! Hosts Cameroon kick things off against Burkina Faso.

[Baddar]

A hilarious yellow card in the first minute of the match. If there was VAR, it could easily have been red.

And Burkina Faso lead! Onana flapping about, good volley as well tbf.

[Colly]

There is VAR. I think it's the typical orange card, looked a bit naughty but very little force behind it. Probably red on the field if it's 20 minutes later and not overturned.

[Baddar]

I realised there was VAR when it awarded the first of Cameroon's two pens. They're leading at HT now.

[Lineker]

Sky's coverage was apparently abysmal?

[Baddar]

It's clearly just the world English feed as opposed to Sky actually covering any of it themselves, and it's not great, no.

[Lineker]

But no analysts? The on-screen score graphics apparently disappeared? Poor.

[Baddar]

Not at this stage, no.

They kept removing the score graphics as there was a problem with the feed freezing/going black during the 2nd half.

Haven't noticed any of those issues during the first half of Ethiopia-Cape Verde though.

[Baddar]

The commentary hasn't been the best either.

"The match officials really are going by the rule book here."

Well, you'd hope so.

[GoGo Yubari]

Not watching but it sounded like Nouhou had a good game for Cameroon, which makes me happy. One of the most fun players to watch for Sounders when he's at 100%.

[The Kraig]

38 minutes ago, Baddar said:

The commentary hasn't been the best either.

"The match officials really are going by the rule book here."

Well, you'd hope so.

Is it Michael Owen? Or his African counterpart, Owen Michael?

I love the Cup of Nations, I miss the days when Channel Five made it feel quite special. Also, where the buck are Zambia?

[DavidMarrio]

3 hours ago, The Kraig said:

Is it Michael Owen? Or his African counterpart, Owen Michael?

I love the Cup of Nations, I miss the days when Channel Five made it feel quite special. Also, where the buck are Zambia?

He's too busy dressing up as a giant doughnut man and trying to sing on ITV

[gunnar hendershow]

I have no means (legally) by which to watch this but it sounds as if the international broadcasts have been poor so far anyway. Quite a shame. 

I always love following this tournament because it's the one that seems to always have the most chaos. A ton of nations all on very near equal footing.

[Malenko]

10 hours ago, The Kraig said:

Is it Michael Owen? Or his African counterpart, Owen Michael?

I love the Cup of Nations, I miss the days when Channel Five made it feel quite special. Also, where the buck are Zambia?

3rd in their qualifying group.

[Lineker]

Quote

Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy will miss Senegal's opening Africa Cup of Nations match against Zimbabwe on Monday after testing positive for coronavirus.

Mendy joins captain Kalidou Koulibaly and striker Famara Diedhiou on the sidelines for their Group B opener after all three players tested positive for Covid-19.

It leaves the tournament favourites with a threadbare squad for the match in Bafoussam after six players - Saliou Ciss, Bamba Dieng, Mame Baba Thiam, Pape Matar Sarr, Nampalys Mendy and second-choice goalkeeper Alfred Gomis - all remained in Dakar on Wednesday after testing positive.

Senegal are also without Watford winger Ismaila Sarr and Royal Antwerp defender Abdoulaye Seck, who are both injured.

Senegal head coach Aliou Cisse said on Sunday: "It's a difficult and complicated situation.

"But we are going to be competitive and those there are going to play for those who are absent.

"We are still going into the game against Zimbabwe full of confidence."

 

[The Kraig]

1 hour ago, Lineker said:

 

Worth a punt on Zim. They're also the reason Zambia did not qualify. Go Zimbabwe!

[stokeriño]

18 hours ago, The Kraig said:

Is it Michael Owen? Or his African counterpart, Owen Michael?

You're probably thinking of John Owen Mikel.

[Hobo]

Steven Caulker is playing for Sierra Leone!?