The knockout stage of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations was the second and final stage of the competition, following the group stage. It began on 23 January with the round of 16 and ended on 6 February 2022 with the final held at the Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé. A total of 16 teams (the top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams) advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination style tournament.
All match times are local, WAT (UTC+1).
Format In the knockout stage, except for the third place play-off, if a match was level at the end of 90 minutes of normal playing time, extra time was played (two periods of 15 minutes each). If still tied after extra time, the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. In the third place play-off, if the scores remained level after 90 minutes the match would go directly to a penalty shoot-out, without any extra time being played.
Qualified teams The top two placed teams from each of the six groups, plus the four best-placed third teams, qualified for the knockout stage.
Group Winners Runners-up Third-placed teams(Best four qualified) A B C D E F
Bracket
Round of 16 Burkina Faso vs Gabon
GK 16Hervé KoffiRB 9 Issa KaboréCB 4 Soumaïla OuattaraCB 12Edmond TapsobaLB 25Steeve YagoCM 24Adama GuiraCM 22Blati TouréRW 28Dango OuattaraAM 20Gustavo SangaréLW 19Hassane BandéCF 10Bertrand Traoré (c)Substitutions:FW 17Zakaria SanogoFW 11Mohamed KonatéMF 6 Saïdou SimporéFW 15Abdoul TapsobaMF 18Ismahila OuédraogoManager:Kamou Malo GK 1 Jean-Noël AmonomeCB 8 Lloyd PalunCB 5 Bruno Ecuele Manga (c)CB 4 Sidney ObissaRM 3 Anthony OyonoCM 2 Alex Moucketou-MoussoundaCM 17André Biyogo PokoLM 6 Johann ObiangAM 12Guélor KangaCF 7 Aaron BoupendzaCF 11Jim AllevinahSubstitutions:FW 14Louis AmekaFW 20Denis BouangaFW 10Axel MéyéDF 28Yannis N'GakoutouOther disciplinary actions:GK 16Anthony Mfa MezuiManager: Patrice Neveu
Man of the Match: Blati Touré (Burkina Faso)
Assistant referees: Lahcen Azgaou (Morocco) Mustapha Akarkad (Morocco) Fourth official: Ahmad Heeralall (Mauritius) Video assistant referee: Adil Zourak (Morocco) Assistant video assistant referees: Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco) Zakaria Brinsi (Morocco)
Nigeria vs Tunisia
GK 1 Maduka OkoyeRB 2 Ola AinaCB 5 William Troost-Ekong (c)CB 22Kenneth OmeruoLB 12Zaidu SanusiCM 4 Wilfred NdidiCM 10Joe AriboRW 17Samuel ChukwuezeAM 14Kelechi IheanachoLW 15Moses SimonCF 19Taiwo AwoniyiSubstitutions:MF 18Alex IwobiFW 28Peter OlayinkaFW 24Umar SadiqFW 7 Ahmed MusaInterim manager:Augustine Eguavoen GK 22Bechir Ben SaïdRB 20Mohamed DrägerCB 2 Bilel IfaCB 3 Montassar TalbiLB 5 Oussama HaddadiCM 25Anis Ben SlimaneCM 17Ellyes SkhiriCM 28Aïssa LaïdouniRF 19Hamza RafiaCF 11Seifeddine JaziriLF 7 Youssef Msakni (c)Substitutions:FW 23Naïm SlitiFW 27Issam JebaliFW 10Wahbi KhazriDF 4 Omar RekikAssistant manager:Jalel Kadri
Man of the Match: Youssef Msakni (Tunisia)
Assistant referees: El Hadj Malick Samba (Senegal) Djibril Camara (Senegal) Fourth official: Issa Sy (Senegal) Video assistant referee: Fernando Guerrero (Mexico) Assistant video assistant referees: Dahane Beida (Mauritania) Fatiha Jermoumi (Morocco)
Guinea vs Gambia
GK 1 Aly KeitaCB 5 Saïdou SowCB 13Mohamed Ali CamaraCB 4 Ibrahima Conté IIDM 6 Amadou Diawara (c)RM 7 Ibrahima CisséCM 23Aguibou CamaraCM 14Ilaix MoribaLM 20Pa KonateCF 11Mohamed BayoCF 9 José KantéSubstitutions:MF 2 Morlaye SyllaFW 21Sory KabaFW 10Morgan GuilavoguiManager: Kaba Diawara GK 18Baboucarr GayeRB 12James GomezCB 5 Omar ColleyCB 6 Sulayman MarrehLB 13Pa Modou Jagne (c)DM 4 Dawda NgumDM 8 Ebrima DarboeCM 2 Yusupha BobbRF 3 Ablie JallowCF 10Musa BarrowLF 11Modou BarrowSubstitutions:FW 19Ebrima ColleyFW 9 Assan CeesayFW 27Yusupha NjieDF 16Mohammed MbyeManager: Tom Saintfiet
Man of the Match: Musa Barrow (Gambia)
Assistant referees: Mahmoud Ahmed Abouelregal (Egypt) Ahmed Hossam Taha (Egypt) Fourth official: Mohamed Marouf Eid Mansour (Egypt) Video assistant referee: Mahmoud Mohamed Ashour (Egypt) Assistant video assistant referees: Ahmed El Ghandour (Egypt) Mohammed Abdallah Ibrahim (Sudan)
Cameroon vs Comoros
GK 24André OnanaRB 19Collins FaiCB 21Jean-Charles CastellettoCB 5 Michael Ngadeu-NgadjuiLB 25Nouhou ToloRM 3 Moumi NgamaleuCM 18Martin HonglaCM 8 André-Frank Zambo AnguissaLM 12Karl Toko EkambiCF 13Eric Maxim Choupo-MotingCF 10Vincent Aboubakar (c)Substitutions:FW 7 Clinton N'JieFW 11Christian BassogogMF 27James Léa SilikiFW 9 Stéphane BahokenMF 26Jean OnanaManager: Toni Conceição GK 3 Chaker AlhadhurRB 19Mohamed YoussoufCB 4 Younn ZaharyCB 6 Jimmy Abdou (c)LB 22Saïd BakariCM 8 Fouad BachirouCM 13Rafidine AbdullahRW 15Benjaloud YoussoufAM 10Youssouf M'ChangamaLW 20Ahmed MogniCF 21Ben NabouhaneSubstitutions:DF 5 Abdallah Ali MohamedFW 24Faiz MattoirFW 14Ali M'MadiFW 25Moussa DjoumoiFW 17Ibroihim DjoudjaManager: Amir Abdou
Man of the Match: Youssouf M'Changama (Comoros)
Assistant referees: Arsenio Marengula (Mozambique) Gilbert Cheruiyot (Kenya) Fourth official: Bernard Camille (Seychelles) Video assistant referee: Maguette N'Diaye (Senegal) Assistant video assistant referees: Peter Waweru (Kenya) Jerson Emiliano dos Santos (Angola)
Senegal vs Cape Verde
GK 16Édouard MendyRB 20Bouna SarrCB 3 Kalidou Koulibaly (c)CB 22Abdou DialloLB 2 Saliou CissCM 5 Idrissa GueyeCM 6 Nampalys MendyCM 26Pape GueyeRF 9 Boulaye DiaCF 19Famara DiédhiouLF 10Sadio ManéSubstitutions:FW 15Bamba DiengMF 13Joseph LopyDF 12Fodé Ballo-TouréDF 21Ibrahima MbayeManager:Aliou Cissé GK 1 VozinhaCB 17Steven FortèsCB 4 PicoCB 2 Stopira (c)RM 22Jeffry FortesCM 7 Patrick AndradeCM 18Kenny RochaLM 16Dylan TavaresRF 11Garry RodriguesCF 20Ryan MendesLF 10Jamiro MonteiroSubstitutions:DF 3 DineyGK 12Márcio RosaMF 5 Nuno BorgesFW 19Júlio TavaresFW 8 Lisandro SemedoManager:Bubista
Man of the Match: Bamba Dieng (Senegal)
Assistant referees: James Fredrick Emile (Seychelles) Mahamadou Yahaya (Niger) Fourth official: Daniel Nii Laryea (Ghana) Video assistant referee: Mehdi Abid Charef (Algeria) Assistant video assistant referees: Mahmoud El Banna (Egypt) Khalil Hassani (Tunisia)
Morocco vs Malawi
GK 1 Yassine BounouRB 2 Achraf HakimiCB 6 Romain Saïss (c)CB 5 Nayef AguerdLB 3 Adam MasinaRM 7 Imran LouzaCM 15Selim AmallahCM 4 Sofyan AmrabatLM 17Sofiane BoufalCF 19Youssef En-NesyriCF 9 Ayoub El KaabiSubstitutions:FW 23Ryan MmaeeMF 16Aymen BarkokFW 10Munir El HaddadiFW 14Zakaria AboukhlalManager: Vahid Halilhodžić GK 1 Charles ThomuRB 2 Stanley SanudiCB 15Lawrence ChaziyaCB 5 Dennis ChembeziLB 21Gomezgani ChirwaRM 7 Micium MhoneCM 8 Chimwemwe IdanaCM 17John Banda (c)LM 10Francisco MadingaCF 22Khuda MuyabaCF 11Gabadinho MhangoSubstitutions:MF 27Gerald Phiri Jr.FW 9 Richard MbuluDF 12Mark FodyaFW 26Stain DavieFW 14Robin NgalandeManager: Mario Marinică
Man of the Match: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
Assistant referees: Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue (Cameroon) Seydou Tiama (Burkina Faso) Fourth official: Boubou Traore (Mali) Video assistant referee: Haythem Guirat (Tunisia) Assistant video assistant referees: Peter Waweru (Kenya) Djibril Camara (Senegal)
Ivory Coast vs Egypt
GK 23Badra Ali SangaréRB 17Serge Aurier (c)CB 21Eric BaillyCB 14Simon DeliLB 3 Ghislain KonanCM 18Ibrahim SangaréCM 4 Jean Michaël SeriCM 8 Franck KessiéRF 15Max GradelCF 22Sébastien HallerLF 19Nicolas PépéSubstitutions:MF 20Serey DiéFW 9 Wilfried ZahaFW 13Jérémie BogaMF 11Maxwel CornetManager: Patrice Beaumelle GK 1 Mohamed El ShenawyRB 3 Omar KamalCB 6 Ahmed HegaziCB 2 Mohamed AbdelmonemLB 13Ahmed FatouhCM 17Mohamed ElnenyCM 4 Amr El SoliaCM 5 Hamdy FathyRF 10Mohamed Salah (c)CF 14Mostafa MohamedLF 22Omar MarmoushSubstitutions:FW 7 TrézéguetMF 21ZizoGK 16Mohamed Abou GabalFW 9 Mohamed SherifManager: Carlos Queiroz
Man of the Match: Mohamed Elneny (Egypt)
Assistant referees: Olivier Safari (DR Congo) Soulaimane Amaldine (Comoros) Fourth official: Hélder Martins de Carvalho (Angola) Video assistant referee: Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia) Assistant video assistant referees: Fernando Guerrero (Mexico) El Hadj Malick Samba (Senegal)
Mali vs Equatorial Guinea
GK 1 Ibrahim MounkoroRB 2 Hamari Traoré (c)CB 17Falaye SackoCB 5 Boubakar KouyatéLB 6 Massadio HaïdaraCM 4 Amadou HaidaraCM 26Mohamed CamaraRW 14Adama Malouda TraoréAM 20Yves BissoumaLW 7 Moussa DoumbiaCF 18Ibrahima KonéSubstitutions:MF 21Adama Noss TraoréMF 19Moussa DjenepoFW 9 El Bilal TouréMF 23Aliou DiengManager:Mohamed Magassouba GK 1 Jesús OwonoRB 15Carlos Akapo (c)CB 21Esteban ObiangCB 16Saúl CocoLB 11Basilio NdongRM 6 Iban SalvadorCM 22Pablo GanetCM 8 José MachínLM 17Josete MirandaSS 4 Federico BikoroCF 18Dorian JuniorSubstitutions:FW 10Emilio NsueMF 14Jannick BuylaMF 7 Rubén BelimaMF 20Santiago EnemeManager:Juan Michá
Man of the Match: Pablo Ganet (Equatorial Guinea)
Assistant referees: Jerson Emiliano dos Santos (Angola) Issa Yaya (Chad) Fourth official: Joshua Bondo (Botswana) Video assistant referee: Adil Zourak (Morocco) Assistant video assistant referees: Samir Guezzaz (Morocco) Zakhele Siwela (South Africa)
Quarter-finals Gambia vs Cameroon
GK 18Baboucarr GayeCB 12James GomezCB 6 Sulayman MarrehCB 5 Omar ColleyRWB 14Noah Sonko SundbergLWB 13Pa Modou Jagne (c)CM 21Saidy JankoCM 2 Yusupha BobbCM 26Ibou TouraySS 10Musa BarrowCF 23Muhammed BadamosiSubstitutions:MF 8 Ebrima DarboeFW 11Modou BarrowFW 19Ebrima ColleyFW 17Bubacarr JobeFW 9 Assan CeesayManager: Tom Saintfiet GK 24André OnanaRB 19Collins Fai CB 21Jean-Charles CastellettoCB 5 Michael Ngadeu-NgadjuiLB 25Nouhou ToloRM 18Martin HonglaCM 14Samuel GouetCM 8 André-Frank Zambo Anguissa LM 3 Moumi Ngamaleu CF 12Karl Toko EkambiCF 10Vincent Aboubakar (c)Substitutions:FW 7 Clinton N'JieMF 15Pierre KundeDF 17Olivier Mbaizo MF 28Yvan Neyou FW 11Christian Bassogog Manager: Toni Conceição
Man of the Match: Karl Toko Ekambi (Cameroon)
Assistant referees: Mohammed Abdallah Ibrahim (Sudan) Seydou Tiama (Burkina Faso) Fourth official: Boubou Traore (Mali) Video assistant referee: Haythem Guirat (Tunisia) Assistant video assistant referees: Lahlou Benbraham (Algeria) Khalil Hassani (Tunisia)
Burkina Faso vs Tunisia
GK 16Hervé Koffi (c)RB 9 Issa KaboréCB 4 Soumaïla OuattaraCB 12Edmond TapsobaLB 25Steeve YagoCM 24Adama GuiraCM 22Blati TouréRW 20Gustavo SangaréAM 21Cyrille BayalaLW 28Dango OuattaraCF 2 Djibril OuattaraSubstitutions:FW 11Mohamed KonatéOther disciplinary actions:FW 19Hassane BandéManager:Kamou Malo GK 22Bechir Ben SaïdRB 20Mohamed DrägerCB 6 Dylan BronnCB 2 Bilel IfaLB 5 Oussama HaddadiCM 25Anis Ben SlimaneCM 17Ellyes SkhiriCM 28Aïssa LaïdouniRF 10Wahbi KhazriCF 11Seifeddine JaziriLF 7 Youssef Msakni (c)Substitutions:FW 23Naïm SlitiDF 12Ali MaâloulFW 27Issam JebaliMF 19Hamza RafiaManager:Mondher Kebaier
Man of the Match: Blati Touré (Burkina Faso)
Assistant referees: Arsenio Marengula (Mozambique) Gilbert Cheruiyot (Kenya) Fourth official: Peter Waweru (Kenya) Video assistant referee: Rédouane Jiyed (Morocco) Assistant video assistant referees: Adil Zourak (Morocco) Fatiha Jermoumi (Morocco)
Egypt vs Morocco
GK 16Mohamed Abou GabalRB 3 Omar KamalCB 6 Ahmed HegaziCB 2 Mohamed AbdelmonemLB 13Ahmed FatouhCM 4 Amr El SoliaCM 17Mohamed ElnenyCM 12Ayman AshrafRF 10Mohamed Salah (c)CF 14Mostafa MohamedLF 22Omar MarmoushSubstitutions:FW 7 TrézéguetMF 21ZizoDF 20Mahmoud AlaaGK 23Mohamed SobhyFW 11Ramadan SobhiFW 28Marwan HamdyManager: Carlos Queiroz GK 1 Yassine BounouRB 2 Achraf HakimiCB 6 Romain Saïss (c)CB 5 Nayef AguerdLB 3 Adam MasinaDM 4 Sofyan AmrabatRM 10Munir El HaddadiCM 16Aymen BarkokCM 15Selim AmallahLM 17Sofiane BoufalCF 19Youssef En-NesyriSubstitutions:FW 27Soufiane RahimiMF 7 Imran LouzaFW 23Ryan MmaeeFW 14Zakaria AboukhlalFW 28Tarik TissoudaliManager: Vahid Halilhodžić
Man of the Match: Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Assistant referees: El Hadj Malick Samba (Senegal) Djibril Camara (Senegal) Fourth official: Sadok Selmi (Tunisia) Video assistant referee: Fernando Guerrero (Mexico) Assistant video assistant referees: Dahane Beida (Mauritania)