# 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Group E

Group E of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations took place from 11 to 20 January 2022. The group consisted of defending champions Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, the Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone.
The Ivory Coast and Equatorial Guinea advanced to the round of 16.

## Teams

| Draw position | Team | Zone | Method of qualification | Date of qualification | Finals appearance | Last appearance | Previous best performance | FIFA Rankings | FIFA Rankings |
| Draw position | Team | Zone | Method of qualification | Date of qualification | Finals appearance | Last appearance | Previous best performance | May 2021 | December 2021 |
| E1 | Algeria | UNAF | Group H winners | 16 November 2020 | 19th | 2019 | Winners (1990, 2019) | 33 | 29 |
| E2 | Ivory Coast | WAFU | Group K winners | 26 March 2021 | 24th | 2019 | Winners (1992, 2015) | 59 | 56 |
| E3 | Sierra Leone | WAFU | Group L runners-up | 15 June 2021 | 3rd | 1996 | Group stage (1994, 1996) | 114 | 108 |
| E4 | Equatorial Guinea | UNIFFAC | Group J runners-up | 25 March 2021 | 3rd | 2015 | Fourth place (2015) | 132 | 114 |
Notes
* ↑ The rankings of May 2021 were used for seeding for the final draw.

## Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Ivory Coast | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 7 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Equatorial Guinea | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 6 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 3 | Sierra Leone | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 2 | |
| 4 | Algeria | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 1 | |

## Matches
### Algeria vs Sierra Leone

| Algeria | Sierra Leone |
| GK | 23 | Raïs M'Bolhi |
| RB | 20 | Youcef Atal |
| CB | 2 | Aïssa Mandi |
| CB | 17 | Abdelkader Bedrane | 35' | 46' |
| LB | 21 | Ramy Bensebaini |
| DM | 12 | Haris Belkebla | | 84' |
| RM | 7 | Riyad Mahrez (c) |
| CM | 10 | Sofiane Feghouli | | 64' |
| CM | 11 | Yacine Brahimi | | 65' |
| LM | 8 | Youcef Belaïli |
| CF | 13 | Islam Slimani | | 65' |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 4 | Djamel Benlamri | | 46' |
| MF | 15 | Farid Boulaya | | 64' |
| FW | 9 | Baghdad Bounedjah | | 65' |
| MF | 14 | Sofiane Bendebka | | 65' |
| FW | 27 | Saïd Benrahma | | 84' |
| Manager: ||
| Djamel Belmadi ||
| GK | 1 | Mohamed Kamara |
| RB | 2 | Osman Kakay |
| CB | 17 | Umaru Bangura (c) | 77' |
| CB | 5 | Steven Caulker |
| LB | 3 | Kevin Wright |
| CM | 7 | Kwame Quee |
| CM | 6 | John Kamara |
| RW | 19 | Mustapha Bundu |
| AM | 10 | Kei Kamara |
| LW | 14 | Mohamed Buya Turay | | 84' |
| CF | 12 | Alhaji Kamara | | 76' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 8 | Saidu Fofanah | | 76' |
| FW | 11 | Sullay Kaikai | | 84' |
| Manager: ||
| John Keister ||
* Man of the Match:
* Mohamed Kamara (Sierra Leone)
* Assistant referees:
* Soulaimane Almadine (Kenya)
* Lionel Andrianantenaina (Madagascar)
* Fourth official:
* Pacifique Ndabihawenimana (Burundi)
* Video assistant referee:
* Adil Zourak (Morocco)
* Assistant video assistant referee:
* Zakaria Brinsi (Morocco)

### Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast

| Equatorial Guinea | Ivory Coast |
| GK | 13 | Manuel Sapunga |
| RB | 15 | Carlos Akapo | | 89' |
| CB | 21 | Esteban Obiang |
| CB | 16 | Saúl Coco |
| LB | 11 | Basilio Ndong |
| RM | 6 | Iban Salvador | | 82' |
| CM | 22 | Pablo Ganet |
| CM | 8 | José Machín |
| LM | 14 | Jannick Buyla |
| CF | 10 | Emilio Nsue (c) |
| CF | 18 | Dorian Junior | | 64' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 19 | Luis Nlavo | 67' | 64' |
| FW | 9 | Óscar Siafá | | 82' |
| DF | 23 | Luis Meseguer | | 89' |
| Assistant coach: ||
| Casto Nopo ||
| GK | 23 | Badra Ali Sangaré |
| RB | 12 | Habib Maïga |
| CB | 21 | Eric Bailly |
| CB | 14 | Simon Deli |
| LB | 3 | Ghislain Konan |
| CM | 18 | Ibrahim Sangaré | 31' |
| CM | 4 | Jean Michaël Seri |
| CM | 8 | Franck Kessié | | 71' |
| RF | 15 | Max Gradel (c) | | 71' |
| CF | 22 | Sébastien Haller | | 82' |
| LF | 11 | Maxwel Cornet | | 71' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 20 | Serey Dié | | 71' |
| FW | 9 | Wilfried Zaha | | 71' |
| FW | 19 | Nicolas Pépé | | 71' |
| FW | 24 | Christian Kouamé | | 82' |
| Manager: ||
| Patrice Beaumelle ||
* Man of the Match:
* Jean Michaël Seri (Ivory Coast)
* Assistant referees:
* Lahcen Azgaou (Morocco)
* Mustapha Akarkad (Morocco)
* Fourth official:
* Samir Guezzaz (Morocco)
* Video assistant referee:
* Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco)
* Assistant video assistant referee:
* Zakaria Brinsi (Morocco)

### Ivory Coast vs Sierra Leone

| Ivory Coast | Sierra Leone |
| GK | 23 | Badra Ali Sangaré |
| RB | 17 | Serge Aurier (c) |
| CB | 21 | Eric Bailly | 90+3' |
| CB | 14 | Simon Deli |
| LB | 3 | Ghislain Konan |
| CM | 18 | Ibrahim Sangaré | 73' |
| CM | 4 | Jean Michaël Seri |
| CM | 8 | Franck Kessié | 82' |
| RF | 19 | Nicolas Pépé |
| CF | 22 | Sébastien Haller | 72' |
| LF | 9 | Wilfried Zaha | 82' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 24 | Christian Kouamé | 72' |
| MF | 25 | Hamed Traorè | 73' |
| MF | 20 | Serey Dié | 82' |
| FW | 10 | Jean Evrard Kouassi | 82' |
| DF | 7 | Odilon Kossounou | 90+3' |
| Manager: ||
| Patrice Beaumelle ||
| GK | 1 | Mohamed Kamara |
| RB | 2 | Osman Kakay | 52' |
| CB | 17 | Umaru Bangura (c) |
| CB | 5 | Steven Caulker |
| LB | 3 | Kevin Wright |
| RM | 19 | Mustapha Bundu | | 75' |
| CM | 7 | Kwame Quee |
| CM | 6 | John Kamara |
| LM | 14 | Mohamed Buya Turay | | 73' |
| CF | 10 | Kei Kamara | | 83' |
| CF | 28 | Musa Noah Kamara |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 22 | Issa Kallon | | 73' |
| FW | 12 | Alhaji Kamara | 90+5' | 75' |
| FW | 11 | Sullay Kaikai | | 83' |
| Manager: ||
| John Keister ||
* Man of the Match:
* Nicolas Pépé (Ivory Coast)
* Assistant referees:
* Djibril Camara (Senegal)
* Sidiki Sidibe (Guinea)
* Fourth official:
* Issa Sy (Senegal)
* Video assistant referee:
* Bakary Gassama (Gambia)
* Assistant video assistant referee:
* El Hadj Malick Samba (Senegal)

### Algeria vs Equatorial Guinea

| Algeria | Equatorial Guinea |
| GK | 23 | Raïs M'Bolhi |
| RB | 20 | Youcef Atal |
| CB | 2 | Aïssa Mandi | 45+1' |
| CB | 4 | Djamel Benlamri | | 54' |
| LB | 21 | Ramy Bensebaini | 8' |
| CM | 22 | Ismaël Bennacer |
| CM | 14 | Sofiane Bendebka | | 73' |
| RW | 7 | Riyad Mahrez (c) |
| AM | 10 | Sofiane Feghouli | | 64' |
| LW | 8 | Youcef Belaïli |
| CF | 9 | Baghdad Bounedjah | 4' | 64' |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 3 | Mehdi Tahrat | | 54' |
| MF | 15 | Farid Boulaya | | 64' |
| FW | 13 | Islam Slimani | | 64' |
| MF | 11 | Yacine Brahimi | | 73' |
| Manager: ||
| Djamel Belmadi ||
| GK | 1 | Jesús Owono |
| RB | 15 | Carlos Akapo (c) |
| CB | 21 | Esteban Obiang | 90+4' |
| CB | 16 | Saúl Coco |
| LB | 11 | Basilio Ndong | 9' |
| CM | 22 | Pablo Ganet |
| CM | 8 | José Machín |
| RW | 6 | Iban Salvador | | 90+2' |
| AM | 4 | Federico Bikoro | 43' | 66' |
| LW | 14 | Jannick Buyla | | 66' |
| CF | 9 | Óscar Siafá | 45+1' | 46' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 19 | Luis Nlavo | | 46' |
| MF | 17 | Josete Miranda | | 66' |
| FW | 18 | Dorian Junior | | 66' |
| MF | 20 | Santiago Eneme | | 90+2' |
| Manager: ||
| Juan Michá ||
* Man of the Match:
* Iban Salvador (Equatorial Guinea)
* Assistant referees:
* Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue (Cameroon)
* Issa Yaya (Chad)
* Fourth official:
* Joshua Bondo (Botswana)
* Video assistant referee:
* Fernando Guerrero (Mexico)
* Assistant video assistant referee:
* Mohammed Abdallah Ibrahim (Sudan)

### Ivory Coast vs Algeria

| Ivory Coast | Algeria |
| GK | 23 | Badra Ali Sangaré |
| RB | 17 | Serge Aurier (c) | 12' | 69' |
| CB | 7 | Odilon Kossounou |
| CB | 14 | Simon Deli | 12' | 68' |
| LB | 3 | Ghislain Konan |
| CM | 18 | Ibrahim Sangaré | | 69' |
| CM | 4 | Jean Michaël Seri |
| CM | 8 | Franck Kessié |
| RF | 19 | Nicolas Pépé | | 85' |
| CF | 22 | Sébastien Haller |
| LF | 15 | Max Gradel |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 5 | Wilfried Kanon | | 68' |
| MF | 20 | Serey Dié | | 69' |
| MF | 12 | Habib Maïga | 72' | 69' |
| FW | 9 | Wilfried Zaha | | 85' |
| Manager: ||
| Patrice Beaumelle ||
| GK | 23 | Raïs M'Bolhi |
| RB | 20 | Youcef Atal | | 80' |
| CB | 2 | Aïssa Mandi |
| CB | 17 | Abdelkader Bedrane |
| LB | 21 | Ramy Bensebaini |
| CM | 22 | Ismaël Bennacer | | 62' |
| CM | 6 | Ramiz Zerrouki |
| RW | 7 | Riyad Mahrez (c) |
| AM | 27 | Saïd Benrahma | | 46' |
| LW | 8 | Youcef Belaïli | | 80' |
| CF | 9 | Baghdad Bounedjah | | 62' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 13 | Islam Slimani | | 46' |
| MF | 11 | Yacine Brahimi | 78' | 62' |
| MF | 14 | Sofiane Bendebka | | 62' |
| MF | 15 | Farid Boulaya | 84' | 80' |
| DF | 25 | Houcine Benayada | | 80' |
| Manager: ||
| Djamel Belmadi ||
* Man of the Match:
* Franck Kessié (Ivory Coast)
* Assistant referees:
* Zakhele Siwela (South Africa)
* Souru Phatsoane (Lesotho)
* Fourth official:
* Pacifique Ndabihawenimana (Burundi)
* Video assistant referee:
* Haythem Guirat (Tunisia)
* Assistant video assistant referee:
* Dahane Beida (Mauritania)

### Sierra Leone vs Equatorial Guinea

| Sierra Leone | Equatorial Guinea |
| GK | 1 | Mohamed Kamara |
| RB | 2 | Osman Kakay |
| CB | 17 | Umaru Bangura (c) |
| CB | 5 | Steven Caulker | 71' |
| LB | 3 | Kevin Wright | 71' | 75' |
| CM | 6 | John Kamara |
| CM | 27 | Abu Dumbuya | | 46' |
| RW | 7 | Kwame Quee | 77' 90' |
| AM | 10 | Kei Kamara |
| LW | 19 | Mustapha Bundu | | 53' |
| CF | 28 | Musa Noah Kamara | 23' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 14 | Mohamed Buya Turay | 90+6' | 46' |
| FW | 12 | Alhaji Kamara | | 53' |
| MF | 22 | Issa Kallon | | 75' |
| Manager: ||
| John Keister ||
| GK | 1 | Jesús Owono |
| RB | 15 | Carlos Akapo (c) | 61' |
| CB | 21 | Esteban Obiang |
| CB | 16 | Saúl Coco |
| LB | 11 | Basilio Ndong |
| RM | 6 | Iban Salvador |
| CM | 22 | Pablo Ganet |
| CM | 8 | José Machín | 64' | 64' |
| LM | 17 | Josete Miranda | 76' | 88' |
| AM | 4 | Federico Bikoro | | 64' |
| CF | 18 | Dorian Junior | | 75' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 19 | Luis Nlavo | | 64' |
| MF | 14 | Jannick Buyla | | 64' |
| FW | 10 | Emilio Nsue | | 75' |
| MF | 7 | Rubén Belima | | 88' |
| Manager: ||
| Juan Michá ||
* Man of the Match:
* Iban Salvador (Equatorial Guinea)
* Assistant referees:
* Mahmoud Ahmed Abouelregal (Egypt)
* Ahmed Hossam Taha (Egypt)
* Fourth official:
* Mahmoud El Banna (Egypt)
* Video assistant referee:
* Mahmoud Mohamed Ashour (Egypt)
* Assistant video assistant referee:
* Ahmed El Ghandour (Egypt)