The 2022 African Cup of Nations is the 33rd Premier African competition contested by teams from the various national teams and will be held in the West African country, Cameroon.
The competition is played by the senior national teams from the various countries on the African Continent.
Scheduled to take place initially in 2021, the competition was eventually shifted to February 2022 as a result of the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, which resulted in the cancellation of various African football tournaments including the African Cup of Nations.
Cameroon is the host nation of the tournament.
2022 African Cup of Nations teams, the complete teams review through the qualification stage.
The teams that have qualified for the 2022 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon
1. Cameroon
Cameroon was the first country to qualify for the main event as host after the bids and hosting rights were confirmed in 2019.
Cameroon has had the luxury of qualifying for the biggest continental competition as Ha ost on several occasions.
With a high number of passionate fans, the country has continued to emerge tops whenever they in the hosting bid. Recently in February 2021 country successfully hosted the Championship for African Nations (CHAN).
As practised before, the country was also selected to participate in the qualification round by CAF.
2. Senegal
The Senegalese national team is one of the biggest on the African continent. With some of the world biggest stars like Sadio Mane and Koulibaly, Senegal earns more respect and are placed at the top of the seedings.
Grouped in Group I, Senegal nearly enjoyed a smooth ride throughout the qualification stage. Although some of the games were tricky, the West Africans still enjoyed more comfort.
The Terenga lions started with an impressive 2-0 over Congo at home before beating Eswatini on the road.
On the last day of qualification, Senegal almost lost to Eswatini but was saved by a late minute goal deep in added time.
They qualified as a group I winners followed by Guinea Bissau.
Sadio Mane and Koulibaly are expected to lead Senegal’s frontline when the competition kickstarts in 2022.
3. Algeria
The Algerians are the defending Champions of Africa after winning the previous event held in Egypt in 2019.
On the road to success in. Egypt 2019, the Desert Foxes of Algeria Eliminated the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the Semifinals to get to the finals.
Moving over to the 2022 Edition, it was business as usual for the Algerians.
The qualifying series was very impressive as the Desert Foxes qualified for the tournament with an unbeaten record despite having teams like one-time Champions Zambia and Zimbabwe.
It looked easier for the Algerian side with two draws and three wins.
Having some notable names like Riyad Mahrez, Sofiane Feghouli, Ghezzal, and Islam Slimani, Algeria are expected to defend the title they won back in 2019.
Algeria qualified as winners of Group H alongside Zimbabwe as Zambia failed to qualify for the Mundial in Cameroon.
4. Mali
The Eagles of Mali did justice to the opportunity given to them in Group A. Although it was not easy to campaign having teams like Guinea.
Mail could grind out five wins out of six matches, qualifying for the competition as group A winners alongside fellow West Africans Guinea.
Having notable names in the past like Seidou Keita, Mali have continued to perform at the highest level despite not having some of the biggest and hottest stars in Europe.
At least, the Malians have a strong claim and are expected to soar high in Cameroon 2022.
5. Tunisia
The Tunisians are one of the best teams in Africa. The country uses homegrown players to prosecute almost all major continental competitions joined by few foreign-based players.
Tunisia is also one of the most respected national sides on the African continent with several players playing within the African Continent.
Seeding in group J, Tunisia almost qualified with a perfect record of six wins out of six but were stopped from doing so.
Tunisia qualified for the AFCON as Group J winners alongside Equatorial Guinea.
6. Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso reached the final of the competition where they lost to West African neighbours Nigeria.
With some notable names like Jonathan Pitroipa in recent times, Burkina Faso has continued to maintain a good run on the African Continent.
7. Guinea
Guinea is known as the show spoilers for many African sides in the past. Guinea is another strong force on the African continent.
The West Africans qualified as Runners up in Group A behind group winners Mali.
8. Comoros
The Island of Comoros qualified for its first African Cup of Nations after an impressive story through the qualification stage.
It was an unexpected event that saw the Indian Ocean country qualify for a major African football competition.
In a group having teams like Egypt, Kenya and Togo. Comoros took the remaining slot left in Group G after Egypt had qualified as group winners.
The island country won a single game, fought for three draws and managed a loss to book their ticket for Cameroon. It was indeed an emotional day for the people on the island as they witnessed the national team grab a ticket.
Kenya and Togo were very poor, losing one of the tickets to the least known team on the continent.
Today, the face of Comoros football has been lifted as a result of this achievement.
9. Gabon
The Gabonese fought had to reach the finals in the most competitive group and the group of death, Group D.
Having teams like DR Congo, Angola and Gambia, Gabon managed to steal the second ticket in the group.
The led by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mario Lemina is expected to make the headlines next year in Cameroon.
10. The Gambia
It was indeed one of the surprises of the qualification scene as least known Gambia grabbed one of the tickets for D.
Gambia qualified as winners of Group D with 10 points tied together with Gabon.
Football powerhouse DR Congo and Angola failed to qualify for the Mundial.
11. Egypt
Arguably one of the best and the strongest, Egypt is heading to Cameroon after emerging as winners of one of the easiest group G.
Egypt had a fine run throughout the qualification stage having players like Salah.
12. Ghana
The Black Stars of Ghana also had their fair share of the ticket. Ghana also had a fine run throughout the qualification stage to grab one of the available slots for the tournament.
13. Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea will be present in the competition once again after qualifying in the past as host of the tournament.
14. Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe was also another surprise team that is expected to make the headlines when the competition starts.
15. Ivory Coast (Cote D’Ivoire)
The Ivorians also had a fine run throughout the qualification stage. They qualified as group winners in Group K alongside Ethiopia.
Players like Wilfried Zaha, Nicolas Pepe, Kessie are expected to make the headlines in 2022.
16. Morocco
The Moroccans had one of their best outings this time. The North Africans qualified from group E as winners alongside another surprise of the series Mauritania.
17. Nigeria
The Super Eagles of Nigeria as one of the big boys in Africa qualified with a game in hand having teams like Sierra Leone, Benin and Lesotho in the same group.
Although the Nigerian side had a scare as the qualification series progressed further. But the coast was clear for the Eagles to book a flight to Cameroon next year.
18. Sudan
Sudan will also appear in the tournament next year.
19. Malawi
Malawi qualified as Runners up in Group B.
20. Ethiopia
Ethiopia grabbed the second ticket of Group K behind leaders Cote D’Ivoire.
21. Mauritania
Mauritania has continued to be one of the surprises of the competition haven played in the previous edition held in Egypt.
22. Guinea Bissau
The Guinea Bissau nation team will also be represented in Cameroon in 2022.
23. Cape Verde
Cape Verde has always been one of the top surprises of African Football. With an affiliation with European nation Portugal, Cape Verde has enjoyed a steady rise in the African football scene.
The Atlantic Ocean country qualified for the tournament behind leaders Cameroon in Group F.
24. Benin or Sierra Leone
2021 Africa Cup of Nations Tournament details
Dates
9 January – 9 February 2022
Format
Cameroon as the host of the competition was given an automatic ticket for the tournament. the remaining 23 teams qualified through the qualification tournament.
In the tournament, about six Groups will be formed to win the 24 teams group and each team will play a single round-robin