Cameroon vs Burkina Faso and all the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations opening day fixtures

Topics: TV Schedules, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Africa Cup of Nations

The continental tournament gets underway on Sunday, with hosts Cameroon kicking things off with an interesting clash against Burkina Faso.

The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, which was unfortunately delayed until this year, is finally here! The prestigious – but sadly often disrespected – tournament kicks off today, with host nation Cameroon taking on Burkina Faso in the opening fixture.

The 33rd edition of this competition will carry on until February 6. A total of 24 nations spread between six groups of four will battle it out for a spot in the knockout stage, with the top two teams from each group securing automatic qualification to the round of 16 – the top four best third-placed teams also progress, but that is merely a lifeline.

Cameroon vs Burkina Faso is not the only tie scheduled to take place on January 9. Instead, it is merely one of two fixtures set to go down on the opening day, the other being a showdown between two underdogs. Here's everything you need to know about the opening day of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

What are the games to watch on the opening day of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations?

Cameroon vs Burkina Faso: Not only are the Indomitable Lions the hosts, but Cameroon are also the second-most successful nation in this competition and will look to use those two benefits in their bid to lift the title for a sixth time. The continental powerhouses won the trophy in 2017 but failed to make it past the round of 16 in the 2019 edition, going out at the hands of Nigeria.

Toni Conceição's made their way through the qualifiers as expected, picking up 11 points from the six games and finishing as the group winners. However, they topped their group by the smallest of margins, coming just one point ahead of Cape Verde, who they were grouped with in the finals as well. Burkina Faso, on the other hand, won their group by a more comfortable two-point advantage, picking up 12 points to qualify for the finals. However, beating Cameroon on their home soil will no easy feat for the Stallions.

Ethiopia vs Cape Verde: This game will see two nations who failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup go head to head in an intriguing group. Given the two other countries involved, both Ethiopia and Cape Verde know every point counts. The Horn of Africa side failed to win their qualifying group, as did their opposition, finishing second behind Ivory Coast – Cape Verde finished as runners-up to Cameroon.

However, despite winning the tournament back in 1962, Ethiopia had failed to qualify for AFCON since 2013, missing three consecutive tournaments prior to this one. Cape Verde, meanwhile, last qualified in 2015 but reached the quarterfinals in 2013.

Team news

Given that the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations is just about to commence and thus there are little to no injury concerns, here's a reminder of the countries' roster.

Cameroon

Goalkeepers: Simon Omossola (AS Vita Club, DR Congo), Devis Epassy (OFI Crete, Greece), Andre Onana (Ajax, Netherlands).

Defenders: Collins Fai (Standard Liege, Belgium), Olivier Mbaizo (Philadelphia Union, USA), Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui (Gent, Belgium), JC Castelletto (Nantes, France), Harold Moukoudi (St Etienne, France), Enzo Ebosse (Angers, France), Ambroise Oyongo Bitolo (Montpellier, France), Jerome Onguene (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria), Nouhou Tolo (Seattle Sounders, USA).

Midfielders: Jean Onana Junior (Bordeaux, France), Malong Kunde (Olympiakos, Greece), Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Napoli, Italy), Samuel Gouet Oum (Mechelen, Belgium), Martin Hongla (Hellas Verona, Italy), James Lea Siliki (Middlesbrough, England), Yvan Neyou (St Etienne, France).

Forwards: Ignatius Ganago (Lens, France), Christian Bassogog (Shanghai Shenua, China), Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Bayern Munich, Germany), Stephane Bahoken (Angers, France), Karl Toko-Ekambi (Lyon, France), Moumi Ngamaleu (Young Boys, Switzerland), Vincent Aboubakar (Al Nasr, Saudi Arabia), Clinton Njie (Dinamo Moscow, Russia).

Burkina Faso

Goalkeepers: Herve Koffi (Charleroi, Belgium), Aboubacar Sawadogo (Kadiogo, Burkina Faso), Soufiane Farid Ouedraogo (Fuenlabrada, Spain), Kilian Nikiema (ADO Den Haag, Netherlands).

Defenders: Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Issoufou Dayo (Renaissance Berkane, Morocco), Steeve Yago (Aris Limassol, Cyprus), Oula Traore (Horoya, Guinea), Patrick Malo (Hassania Agadir, Morocco), Issa Kabore (Troyes, France), Hermann Nikiema (Salitas, Burkina Faso), Soumaila Ouattara (FUS Rabat, Morocco).

Midfielders: Adama Guira (Racing Rioja, Spain), Blati Toure (Eskilstuna, Sweden), Gustavo Sangare (Quevilly-Rouen, France), Ismahila Ouedraogo (PAOK, Greece), Dramane Nikiema (Horoya, Guinea), Saidou Simpore (Al Ittihad, Egypt), Eric Traore (Pyramids, Egypt), Cyrille Barros Bayala (AC Ajaccio, France), Hassane Bande (Istra 1961, Croatia).

Forwards: Dango Ouattara (Lorient, France), Cheick Djibril Ouattara (Olympique Safi, Morocco), Zakaria Sanogo (Ararat-Armenia, Armenia), Kouame Botue (AC Ajaccio, France), Bertrand Traore (Aston Villa, England), Abdoul Tapsoba (Standard Liege, Belgium), Mohamed Konate (Akhmat, Russia).

Ethiopia

Goalkeepers: Teklemariam Shanko (Sidama Coffee, Ethiopia), Fasil Gebremichael (Bahir Dar Ketema, Ethiopia), Jemal Tassew (Adama Ketema, Ethiopia).

Defenders: Asrat Tunjo (Ethiopian Coffee, Ethiopia), Suleiman Hamid (St George, Ethiopia), Remedan Yesouf (Wolkite K, Ethiopia), Desta Yohannes (Adama K, Ethiopia), Aschalew Tamene (Fasil K, Ethiopia), Yared Bayeh (Fasil K, Ethiopia), Mignot Debebe (St George, Ethiopia), Menaf Awol (Bahir Dar K, Ethiopia).

Midfielders: Amanuel Yohannes (Ethiopian Coffee, Ethiopia), Gatuoch Panom (St George, Ethiopia), Shemeles Bekele (El Gouna, Egypt), Mesoud Mohammed (Jimma AJ, Ethiopia), Fitsum Alemu (Bahir Dar K, Ethiopia), Firew Solomon (Sidama Coffee, Ethiopia), Bezabeh Meleyou (Fasil K, Ethiopia).

Forwards: Abubeker Nassir (Ethiopian Coffee, Ethiopia), Getaneh Kebede (Wolkite K, Ethiopia), Amanuel Gebremichael (St George, Ethiopia), Shemeket Gugsa (Fasil K, Ethiopia), Mujib Kassim (JS Kabylie, Algeria), Mesfin Taffese (Hawassa K, Ethiopia), Dawa Hotessa (Adama K, Ethiopia).

Cape Verde

Goalkeepers: Vozinha (AEL Limassol, Cyprus), Marcio da Rosa (Montalegre, Portugal), Keven Ramos (Mindelese, Cape Verde), Elber Evora (AEL Limassol, Cyprus).

Defenders: Stopira (Fehervar, Hungary), Steven Fortes (Oostende, Belgium), Jeffry Fortes (De Graafschap, Netherlands), Steve Furtado (Beroe, Bulgaria), Roberto Lopes (Shamrock Rovers, Republic of Ireland), Joao Paulo Fernandes (Feirense, Portugal), Diney Borges (AS Far, Morocco), Ponck (Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey), Dylan Tavares (Neuchatel Xamax, Switzerland), Delmiro Nascimento (Aris Limassol, Cyprus).

Midfielders: Kenny Rocha (Oostende, Belgium), Nuno Borges (Casa Pia, Portugal), Patrick Andrade (Qarabag, Azerbaijan), Jamiro Monteior (Philadelphia Union, USA), Nenass (Aalesund, Norway), Marco Soares (Arouca, Portugal).

Forwards: Ryan Mendes (Al Nasr, UAE), Willy Semedo (Pafos, Cyprus), Gilson Tavares (Estoril-Praia, Portugal), Willis Furtado (FK Jerv, Norway), Julio Tavares (Al Faisaly, Saudi Arabia), Garry Rodrigues (Olympiakos, Greece), Lisandro Semedo (Fortuna Sittard, Netherlands), Vagner (Sion, Switzerland).