The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations gets underway this month as 24 teams vie to become the kings of the continent. Here is everything you need to know about the 33rd edition of Afcon.
What is the Africa Cup of Nations?
Afcon is a biennial international football tournament involving the national teams of Africa. It is organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
When is the Afcon 2021?
The latest edition of the tournament begins on Sunday, January 9 with the final scheduled for February 6.
Afcon 2021 has twice been rescheduled; the original dates of June-July 2021 were scrapped due to what CAF called "unfavourable climatic conditions", before the rearranged earlier slot of January-February 2021 was postponed because of the pandemic.
Where is Afcon 2021?
The tournament will be played in Cameroon. The hosts are four-time Afcon champions having most recently won the title in 2017.
Which teams are playing at Afcon 2021?
There are 24 teams competing at the tournament, separated into six groups of four. The groups are as follows:
Group A: Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ethiopia
Group B: Senegal, Zimbabwe, Guinea, Malawi
Group C: Morocco, Ghana, Gabon, Comoros
Group D: Egypt, Nigeria, Sudan, Guinea-Bissau
Group E: Algeria, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea
Group F: Tunisia, Mali, Gambia, Mauritania
The top two teams from each group, along with the best four third-placed teams will advance to the last 16 knockout stage.
Who are some of the star players at Afcon 2021?
Afcon 2021 will see many of the world's best footballers competing in Cameroon. The tournament hosts have Ajax No 1 Andre Onana between the sticks and Napoli's Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa patrolling the midfield, while Group A rivals Burkina Faso's attack will be led by Aston Villa's Bertrand Traore.
In Group B, Senegal have several Europe-based stars in their squad, including Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, PSG midfielder Idrissa Gueye, and Liverpool forward Sadio Mane. Group rivals Guinea boast another Liverpool player in Naby Keita.
Group C top seeds Morocco are captained by Wolves defender Romain Saiss, while Ghana have Ayew brothers Andre and Jordan in their team. Gabon, meanwhile, are led by exiled Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Over in Group D, Egypt have arguably the best player in the tournament in their line-up as Liverpool's Mohamed Salah aims to lead his nation to an eighth Afcon title. However, they face in the group a strong Nigeria side with the likes of Leicester City pair Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfried Ndidi.
Defending champions Algeria headline Group E and can call upon Manchester City forward Riyad Mahrez, Lyon striker Islam Slimani, AC Milan midfielder Ismael Bennacer, and Galatasaray winger Sofiane Feghouli. Algeria face a tough challenge to top the group from a stacked Ivory Coast squad, which includes Manchester United defender Eric Bailly, Milan midfielder Franck Kessie, Burnley forward Maxwel Cornet, Ajax striker Sébastien Haller, Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, and Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe.
Group E top seeds Tunisia boast one of the most exciting young talents in the tournament in Manchester United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri, who will go up against Mali's RB Leipzig midfielder Amadou Haidara.
What is the Afcon 2021 schedule?
Here is the full group schedule for Afcon 2021. All kick-off times UAE (+4 GMT).
Group stage round 1: Sunday, January 9
8pm: Cameroon v Burkina Faso / 11pm: Ethiopia v Cape Verde
Monday, January 10
5pm: Senegal v Zimbabwe / 8pm: Guinea v Malawi / 8pm: Morocco v Ghana / 11pm: Comoros v Gabon
Tuesday, January 11
5pm: Alergia v Sierra Leone / 8pm: Egypt v Nigeria / 11pm: Sudan v Guinea-Bissau
Wednesday, January 12
5pm: Tunisia v Mali / 8pm: Mauritania v Gambia / 11pm: Equatorial Guinea v Ivory Coast
Group stage round 2: Thursday, January 13
8pm: Cameroon v Ethiopia / 11pm: Cape Verde v Burkina Faso
Friday, January 14
5pm: Senegal v Guinea / 8pm: Malawi v Zimbabwe / 8pm: Morocco v Comoros / 11pm: Gabon v Ghana
Saturday, January 15
8pm: Nigeria v Sudan / 11pm: Guinea-Bissau v Egypt
Saturday, January 16
5pm: Gambia v Mali / 8pm: Tunisia v Mauritania / 8pm: Ivory Coast v Sierra Leone / 11pm: Algeria v Equatorial Guinea
Group stage round 3: Friday, January 17
8pm: Burkina Faso v Ethiopia / Cameroon v Cape Verde
Saturday, January 18
8pm: Malawi v Senegal / Zimbabwe v Guinea / 11pm: Gabon v Morocco / Ghana v Comoros
Sunday, January 19
11pm: Guinea-Bissau v Nigeria / Egypt v Sudan
Monday, January 20
8pm: Sierra Leone v Equatorial Guinea / Ivory Coast v Algeria / 11pm: Gambia v Tunisia / Mali v Mauritania
Round of 16: January 23-26
TBC
Quarter-finals: January 29-30
TBC
Semi-finals: February 2-3
TBC
Third-place playoff: February 6
TBC
Final: February 6
TBC
How to watch Afcon 2021?
Afcon 2021 matches will be broadcast live on beIN Sports HD.
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
UAE - India ties
The UAE is India’s third-largest trade partner after the US and China
Annual bilateral trade between India and the UAE has crossed US$ 60 billion
The UAE is the fourth-largest exporter of crude oil for India
Indians comprise the largest community with 3.3 million residents in the UAE
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi first visited the UAE in August 2015
His visit on August 23-24 will be the third in four years
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited India in February 2016
Sheikh Mohamed was the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations in January 2017
Modi will visit Bahrain on August 24-25
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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The National selections
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10pm Midnight Sands
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
