By Adedapo Adesanya
Sunday, January 9, 2022, will usher in the 33rd edition of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon, less than a year since the coronavirus halted plans for the tournament initially scheduled for the year 2021.
Twenty four countries will be jostling for the trophy across six cities – Bafoussam, Douala, Garoua, Limbé, Olembe and Yaoundé in the East African country.
Among the six stadiums that will host the matches of the competition, the stadium of Limbé where group F will play has been considered a danger zone, witnessing a full-blown insurrection, where English-speaking separatists opposing the Francophone government have been fighting to form a breakaway state and have started to use improvised explosive devices.
Although the Cameroonian government has boosted security; human rights groups and activists have warned that the threats by the separatists should be taken seriously.
The rising cases of COVID-19 amongst players have led to led to alarm but organisers are determined to go ahead with the game.
The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Mr Patrice Motsepe, promised an incredible competition despite the challenges being envisaged.
One of such measures to limit the risk of the speared of the virus during the tournament is to reduce the capacities of the various stadiums. Aside from this, only fully vaccinated fans with proof of negative virus tests will be allowed to attend games.
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 (Nigerian time)
January 9: Matchday 1 on Sunday
4 pm: Cameroon v Burkina Faso
7 pm: Ethiopia v Cape Verde
January 10: Matchday 2 on Monday
1 pm: Senegal v Zimbabwe
4 pm: Guinea v Malawi
4 pm: Morocco v Ghana
7 pm: Comoros v Gabon
January 11: Matchday 3 on Tuesday
1 pm: Algeria v Sierra Leone
4 pm: Nigeria v Egypt
7 pm: Sudan v Guinea Bissau
January 12: Matchday 4 on Wednesday
1 pm: Tunisia v Mali
4 pm: Mauritania v Gambia
7 pm: 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
7 pm: 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
7pm: Winner Group D vs 3rd Group B/E/F at Roumdé Adjia Stadium, Garoua
January 24
4pm: Runner-up Group B vs Runner-up Group F at Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam
7pm: Winner Group A vs 3rd Group C/D/E at Olembe Stadium, Yaoundé
January 25
4pm: Winner Group B vs 3rd Group A/C/D at Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam
7pm: Winner Group C vs 3rd Group A/B/F at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé
January 26
4pm: Winner Group E vs Runner-up Group D at Japoma Stadium, Douala
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
Dipo Olowookere