As the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon begins this Sunday, January 9, RFI takes a look at the key figures of this 33rd edition.
0. Like the number of CAN won by Senegal. The Lions of Teranga, disappointed finalists in 2019 against Algeria, have never won the competition. Led by several world-class players including Sadio Mané, Édouard Mendy or Kalidou Koulibaly, they are once again one of the big favorites of the tournament they will start on January 10 against Zimbabwe.
6. This is the number of stadiums that will host the matches of this CAN 2022. The Kouégong stadium in Bafoussam will host the group B matches, the Limbé stadium will be the scene of the majority of the group F matches, the Roumdé Adjia stadium in Garoua of those in Group D and the Japoma stadium near Douala will host the majority of Group E matches. Groups A and C will respectively play their matches in the Olembe and Ahmadou Ahidjo stadiums in Yaoundé.
8. This is the number of years that Cameroon finally had to wait to be able to finally organize this CAN. In 2014, CAF awarded him the organization of the 2019 edition before withdrawing him because of delays, especially in terms of infrastructure and security, to finally attribute it to Egypt. Cameroon then inherited the 2021 edition, the organization of which was finally postponed to 2022 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. This CAN 2022 is the second only organized by the country after that of 1972.
14. This is the number of teams to have won the Africa Cup of Nations at least once. With seven victories on the clock, it is of course Egypt which arrives at the top of the standings, followed by Cameroon with its five final victories and Ghana which has four.
15. By participating in this CAN 2022, Tunisia will take part in its 15th consecutive final phase. A record which she had previously held with Egypt and its 14 consecutive participations from 1984 to 2010.
22. Egypt does not only hold the record for victories. With 22 participations in the final phase of the CAN, it is also the team that took part in the competition the most.
24. For the second consecutive edition, 24 teams divided into six groups will play this CAN 2022. The first two of each group then qualify for the round of 16 just like the four best third.
28. This is a first in the competition, each team can select up to 28 players for this edition. Because of the Covid-19, the selectors were able to expand their list of players summoned in order to be able to deal with any eventuality in the event that players were infected and forced to isolate themselves.
60. It is in percentage the number of spectators who will be able to attend the matches from the stadiums according to their capacity. CAF has decided to set up a limited number of spectators in order to avoid any risk of Covid-19 contamination. Cameroon’s matches, however, obtained preferential treatment since their gauge was raised to 80% in order to allow as many Indomitable Lions supporters as possible to attend the matches.
60,000. This is the capacity of the largest enclosure in the competition. The Olembe stadium in Youndé will notably host Cameroon matches. It is also there that the opening ceremony, a semi-final and the final of the competition will take place on February 6.
► To read also: CAN 2021: calendar and results of the Africa Cup