AFCON 2021 Round One Flashback: Vincent Aboubakar remains top scorer, Ghana, Egypt tastes defeat, Nigeria, Morocco, Mali picks victory(HIGHLIGHTS)

The 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations began on Sunday, 9th January 2022 regardless of the COVID-19 scare.

Cameroon opened the 33rd edition with a 2-1 come-back victory over Burkina Faso at the Olembe Sports Stadium after their 29-year old captain, Vincent Aboubakar scored twice from the penalty spot.

A total of 12 games has so far been played in the first round of the group stages.

Only Cameroon scored more than a goal in the first round, nine of the matches produced a goal per match with two games ending in a scoreless draw.

Vincent Aboubakar’s two goals lead is yet to be broken.

During the first round, Sierra Leone made their first appearance after 26-years and put up a massive performance to shock the world after holding the reigning champions, Algeria to a goalless draw in the Group E opener.

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The first epic encounter in the tournament saw four times champions Ghana playing against Morocco at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde on day two. The game ended in favor of the North African giants after Sofiane Boufal scored the only goal at the 80th minute.

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In Group D, the most successful winners, Egypt were defeated by the Super Eagles of Nigeria through Kelechi Iheanacho’s first-half strike.

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In all 12 goals scored, 32yellow cards and 2 red cards were recorded.

The journey of around two begins today with a liner between the hosts, Cameroon and Ethiopia exactly 4:00 PM (17:00GMT) at the Olembe Sports Stadium.

AFCON 2021 Round One Results

Group A

Cameroon 2 – 1 Burkina Faso

Ethiopia 0 – 0 Cape Verde

Group B

Senegal 1 – 0 Zimbabwe

Guinea 1 – 0 Malawi

Group C

Morocco 1 – 0 Ghana

Comoros 0 – 1 Gabon

Group D

Nigeria 1 – 0 Egypt

Sudan 0 – 0 Guinea-Bissau

Group E

Algeria 0 – 0 Sierra Leone

Equatorial Guinea 0 – 1 Ivory Coast

Group F

Tunisia 0 – 1 Mali

Mauritania 0 – 1 Gambia

There have been 12 goals scored in 12 matches, for an average of 1 goal per match (as of 12 January 2022).

Vincent Aboubakar – Cameroon 2goals

Gustavo Sangaré – Burkina Faso 1

Júli Tavares – Cape Verde 1

Aaron Boupendza – Gabon 1

Able Jallow – Gambia 1

Issiaga Sylla – Guinea 1

Max Gradel Ivory Coast 1

Ibrahima Koné – Mali 1

Sofiane Boufal – Morocco 1

Kelechi Iheanacho – Nigeria 1

Sadio Mané – Senegal 1

Round Two Fixtures

Thursday – 13/01/2022

Group A

16:00 Cameroon vs Ethiopia

19:00 – Cape Verde vs Burkina Faso

Friday – 14/01/2022

Group B

13:00 – Senegal vs Guinea

16:00 – Malawi vs Zimbabwe

Group C

16:00 – Morocco vs Comoros

19:00 – Gabon vs Ghana

Saturday – 15/01/2022

Group D

16:00 – Nigeria vs Sudan

19:00 – Guinea-Bissau vs Egypt

Sunday – 16/01/2022

Group E

13:00 – Gambia vs Mali

16:00 – Tunisia vs Mauritania

Group F

16:00 – Côte d’Ivoire vs Sierra Leone

19:00 – Algeria vs Equatorial