It’s now confirmed that the tournament will happen and Sky Sports will broadcast live coverage of the 24-team tournament between January 9th and February 6th.

“The rearranged Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will go ahead as scheduled next month in Cameroon,” said Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe.

The meeting was held between Motsepe and Cameroon president Paul Biya amid concerns over the threat of coronavirus outbreaks due to the Omicron variant.

Africa's football showpiece, usually held every two years, was scheduled to be played last summer but was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"I'm going to be here on January 7th and I'm coming to watch football," Motsepe said on Tuesday.

"I'm coming to watch on January 9th [the opening match between] Cameroon against Burkina Faso. I will also be around to see when the trophy is handed over." he added.

Earlier this month, the European Club Association expressed its "deep concerns" about whether players would be safe at the tournament amid rising cases of the Omicron Covid-19 variant.

Motsepe previously confirmed strict testing measures for players and staff and added on Tuesday that spectators would need to show proof of negative PCR tests.

"We must always identify problems and challenges, and not shy away from them. We must have the confidence and the belief that we can overcome them," he said.

"Nobody will be allowed into the stadium without a (negative) PCR test. We will have to protect the fans that are there. Of course, there will be concerns about fake tests going around, but we are dealing with those issues.

"We have to have confidence and belief in ourselves as Africans. And we have to have confidence and belief that we can host a very successful Nations Cup in Cameroon."

Cameroon was originally awarded the hosting of the 2019 finals but the tournament was switched to Egypt when CAF found the central African country was not ready.

The upcoming tournament is the 33rd edition of AFCON, which was won by Algeria in 2019.

AFCON Draw

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 kicks off on January 9th and the group stages finish on January 20.

The round of 16 takes place from January 23 to January 26, while the quarter-finals are on January 29 and 30.

It's a busy schedule with the semi-finals on February 2nd and 3rd and the conclusion of the tournament on February 6 with the final and the third-place play-off.

Key dates

January 9 - AFCON group stage starts

January 20 - AFCON group stage ends

January 23 to 26 - AFCON last 16

January 29 and 30 - AFCON quarter-finals

February 2 and 3 - AFCON semi-finals

February 6 - AFCON final and third-place play-off

Story Courtesy of Sky Sports

Africa Cup of Nations on next month

More from category

10 footballers whose careers were marked by jail terms

Match-fixing, guns and bloodshed putting Ugandan football under the spotlight

U-20 AFCON: Ladan Bosso counters Uganda allegation that Flying Eagles are overage

Recommended articles