Live: Watch the special for the opening of CAN-2022

Published on : 01/09/2022 – 15:49

A great football country, Cameroon is finally hosting its African Cup of Nations, from Sunday January 9 until February 6. After three years of delay and controversy, the 33^e CAN is finally putting its bags down in the land of the Indomitable Lions after a first postponement in 2019, because the facilities were not ready, and a new delay of one year, this time because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

With a total capacity of 60,000 seats, the Olembé stadium, in the capital Yaoundé, is the jewel of the competition, built especially for the event. Despite the delays in the work and its cost which caused controversy, it hosts Sunday the opening match between Cameroon and Burkina Faso, the final and the group matches of the Cameroonian selection.

Algeria, Cameroon and Senegal in favorites

Placed in group A with Burkina Faso, their first opponent, Ethiopia and Cape Verde, the Cameroonians should logically qualify, especially with the formula picking up the four best thirds of the six groups. With the host country, we find the usual range of favorites, with Algeria led by Djamel Belmadi and sublimated by Ryad Mahrez, title holder.

Senegal and its armada, from goalkeeper Mendy to striker Mané, will seek to finally crown the continental crown, after two lost finals, in 2019 against Algeria (1-0) and in 2002 against Cameroon (0-0, 3 tab to 2). Behind this trio come the usual heavyweights, Egypt of Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Côte d’Ivoire of Sébastien Haller (Ajax Amsterdam), Morocco coached by Vahid Halilhodzic, Nigeria of Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester) and Tunisia by Wahbi Khazri (Saint-Étienne).

Two “Petits Poucets” discover the continental scene, The Gambia and the Comoros, with dreams in their heads, allowed by these famous places of better third to reach the round of 16.

Among the heavyweights of the continent only South Africa and the DR Congo are missing. For a month the African balloon will spin without them.

With AFP