By Amaechi Agbo

On Thursday, January 20, 2022, the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON group stage matches were concluded.

Eight out of the initial 24 teams including defending Champions, Algeria and four-time winners, Ghana were among the nations sent packing after the preliminary rounds

Shortly after the final group matches, the Confederation of Africa Football, CAF released the knockout statge fixtures, dates and venues of the matches

The knockout statge will commence on Sunday, January 23, 2022 with 2013 finalists, Burkina Faso taking on Gabon at the Limbe Stadium, Limbe by 5pm.

There will be a replay of the third-place match in 2019 edition as Nigeria battle Tunisia again by 8pm on Sunday.

The match will hold at the Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua

Monday 24 January 2022 will be a date for the matches between Guinea and Gambia at the Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam by 5pm.

The second match of the day will see host, Cameroon take on debutants Comoros at the Olembe Stadium, Yaounde by 8pm

On Tuesday, 25 January, 2022 Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam will host the first match of the day between 2019 finalists, Senegal and Cape Verde by 5pm

Morocco v Malawi at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaounde will wrap up the day’s matches by 8pm

The final day of the last 16 matches, 26th January, 2022 will have two games with 2015 champions, Cote d’Ivoire taking on the most successful nation in the tournament, Egypt. The match will hold by 5pm at the Japoma Stadium, Douala

While the final match in the round will see Mali take on Equatorial Guinea at the Limbe Stadium, Limbe by 8pm.

Winners of each match will progress to the quarter-finals.

FULL LAST-16 FIXTURES

Burkina Faso v Gabon – 23 January 16:00

Nigeria v Tunisia – 23 January 19:00

Guinea v Gambia – 24 January 16:00

Cameroon v Comoros – 24 January 19:00

Senegal v Cape Verde – 25 January 16:00

Morocco v Malawi – 25 January 19:00

Ivory Coast v Egypt – 26 January 16:00

Mali v Equatorial Guinea – 26 January 19:00