2021 Africa Cup of Nations

"2022 Africa Cup of Nations" redirects here. For the women's tournament, see 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations.

2021 Africa Cup of Nations
Coupe d'Afrique des Nations 2021
Official logo
Tournament details
Host countryCameroon
Dates9 January – 6 February 2022[1]
Teams24
Venue(s)6 (in 5 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Senegal (1st title)
Runners-up Egypt
Third place Cameroon
Fourth place Burkina Faso
Tournament statistics
Matches played52
Goals scored100 (1.92 per match)
Top scorer(s)Cameroon Vincent Aboubakar (8 goals)
Best player(s)Senegal Sadio Mané[2]
Best young playerBurkina Faso Issa Kaboré[3]
Best goalkeeperSenegal Édouard Mendy[2]
Fair play award Senegal[2]
← 2019
2023 →

The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (also referred to as AFCON 2021 or CAN 2021), known as the TotalEnergies 2021 Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship reasons,[4] was the 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the biennial international men's football championship of Africa organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The tournament was hosted by Cameroon,[5] and took place from 9 January to 6 February 2022.[1]

The tournament was originally scheduled to be played in June and July 2021. However, the CAF announced on 15 January 2020 that due to unfavourable climatic conditions during that period, the tournament had been rescheduled to be played between 9 January and 6 February 2021.[6] On 30 June 2020, the CAF moved the tournament's dates for the second time to January 2022 following the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic across the continent, whilst retaining the name 2021 Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship purposes.[7]

Matches were played in six venues across five cities. Algeria were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the first round after finishing bottom of their group.[8] Senegal won their first AFCON title after defeating Egypt in the final 4–2 on penalties, following a 0–0 draw after extra time.[9]

  1. ^ a b "CAF Executive Committee put infrastructures as one of the main priorities". Confederation of African Football. 31 March 2021. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Mane, Cissé, Mendy, Aboubakar take TotalEnergies AFCON individual awards". Confederation of African Football. 8 February 2022. Archived from the original on 8 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  3. ^ @CAF_Online (6 February 2022). "The Burkinabe Stallion Issa Kabore becomes the best young player in the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 #AFCON2021" (Tweet). Retrieved 7 February 2022 – via Twitter.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference draw postponed was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Cameroon to host 2019, Cote d'Ivoire for 2021, Guinea 2023". Confederation of African Football. 20 September 2014. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  6. ^ "Statement from the Organising Committee of the Total African Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021". Confederation of African Football. 15 January 2020. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  7. ^ "Decisions of CAF Executive Meeting – 30 June 2020". Confederation of African Football. 30 June 2020. Archived from the original on 24 March 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Holders Algeria crash out of Nations Cup". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  9. ^ "Senegal 0 Egypt 0 (4-2 on pens)". BBC Sport. 6 February 2022. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.