Follow TheCable for updates, behind-the-scenes action from AFCON 2022

With boots on ground and a team of dedicated analysts on hand, TheCable is the place for football fans to follow the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon.

African football superstars will converge on the West African country for the next month for the sports extravaganza and readers of TheCable will enjoy behind-the-scenes videos, pictures, exclusive interviews, detailed reportage and analysis every step of the way.

TheCable’s Remi Sulola is already in Yaounde ahead of the opening game between Cameroon and Burkina Faso at the Paul Biya Stadium on Sunday.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will play Egypt in their first match on Tuesday at the Roumdé Adjia Stadium in Garoua — and Sulola will be there to capture the news behind the news.

She will also be cataloguing the intriguing experiences of other standout teams during the course of the tournament.

Would the in-form Mo Salah inspire Egypt to their record eighth title or will Senegal and their “golden generation” of talents get their first AFCON gold?

Can Algeria channel the wherewithal to successfully defend their crown or will Nigeria stun them all to a fourth continental triumph?

Here are the six groups, 24 participating sides, and group fixtures to look out for.

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

January 9: Matchday 1 on Sunday

• 4pm: Cameroon v Burkina Faso
• 7pm: Ethiopia v Cape Verde

January 10: Matchday 2 on Monday

• 1pm: Senegal v Zimbabwe
• 4pm: Guinea v Malawi
• 4pm: Morocco v Ghana
• 7pm: Comoros v Gabon

January 11: Matchday 3 on Tuesday

• 1pm: Algeria v Sierra Leone
• 4pm: Nigeria v Egypt
• 7pm: Sudan v Guinea Bissau

January 12: Matchday 4 on Wednesday

• 1pm: Tunisia v Mali
• 4pm: Mauritania v Gambia
• 7pm: 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
• 7pm: 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

R16 Match 2:

January 23

7pm: Winner Group D vs  3rd Group B/E/F at Roumdé Adjia Stadium, Garoua

R16 Match 4:

January 24

4pm: Runner-up Group B vs Runner-up Group F at Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam

R16 Match 3:

January 24

7pm: Winner Group A vs  3rd Group C/D/E at Olembe Stadium, Yaoundé

R16 Match 5:

January 25

4pm: Winner Group B vs  3rd Group A/C/D at Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam

R16 Match 6:

January 25

7pm: Winner Group C vs 3rd Group A/B/F at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé

R16 Match 7:

January 26

4pm: Winner Group E vs  Runner-up Group D at Japoma Stadium, Douala

R16 Match 8:

January 26

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