# 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Group A

Group A of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations took place from 9 to 17 January 2022. The group consisted of Burkina Faso, hosts Cameroon, Cape Verde and Ethiopia.
Cameroon and Burkina Faso as the top two teams, along with Cape Verde as one of the four best third-placed teams, 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 |
| A1 | Cameroon | UNIFFAC | Hosts and Group F winners | 8 January 2019 | 20th | 2019 | Winners (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017) | 55 | 50 |
| A2 | Burkina Faso | WAFU | Group B winners | 24 March 2021 | 12th | 2017 | Runners-up (2013) | 60 | 60 |
| A3 | Cape Verde | WAFU | Group F runners-up | 30 March 2021 | 3rd | 2015 | Quarter-finals (2013) | 73 | 73 |
| A4 | Ethiopia | CECAFA | Group K runners-up | 30 March 2021 | 11th | 2013 | Winners (1962) | 140 | 137 |
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 | Cameroon (H) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 7 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Burkina Faso | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 3 | Cape Verde | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 4 | Ethiopia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 1 | |
* 1 2 Head-to-head result: Cape Verde 0–1 Burkina Faso.

## Matches
### Cameroon vs Burkina Faso

| Cameroon | Burkina Faso |
| GK | 24 | André Onana |
| RB | 19 | Collins Fai |
| CB | 22 | Jérôme Onguéné | 42' |
| CB | 5 | Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui |
| LB | 25 | Nouhou Tolo |
| DM | 14 | Samuel Gouet |
| RM | 3 | Moumi Ngamaleu | | 81' |
| CM | 15 | Pierre Kunde | | 69' |
| CM | 8 | André-Frank Zambo Anguissa |
| LM | 12 | Karl Toko Ekambi | | 69' |
| CF | 10 | Vincent Aboubakar (c) | | 88' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 13 | Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting | | 69' |
| FW | 7 | Clinton N'Jie | | 69' |
| FW | 11 | Christian Bassogog | | 81' |
| MF | 28 | Yvan Neyou | | 88' |
| Coach: ||
| Toni Conceição ||
| GK | 16 | Hervé Koffi |
| RB | 9 | Issa Kaboré |
| CB | 14 | Issoufou Dayo |
| CB | 25 | Steeve Yago | 1' |
| LB | 5 | Patrick Malo | 32' |
| CM | 24 | Adama Guira |
| CM | 22 | Blati Touré |
| RW | 10 | Bertrand Traoré (c) | | 86' |
| AM | 20 | Gustavo Sangaré |
| LW | 21 | Cyrille Bayala | | 71' |
| CF | 15 | Abdoul Tapsoba | | 71' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 11 | Mohamed Konaté | | 71' |
| FW | 17 | Zakaria Sanogo | | 71' |
| FW | 19 | Hassane Bandé | | 86' |
| Coach: ||
| Kamou Malo ||
* Man of the Match:
* Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon)
* Assistant referees:
* Abdelhak Etchiali (Algeria)
* Mokrane Gourari (Algeria)
* Fourth official:
* Haythem Guirat (Tunisia)
* Video assistant referee:
* Adil Zourak (Morocco)
* Assistant video assistant referee:
* Zakaria Brinsi (Morocco)

### Ethiopia vs Cape Verde

| Ethiopia | Cape Verde |
| GK | 22 | Teklemariam Shanko |
| RB | 2 | Suleman Hamid |
| CB | 15 | Aschalew Tamene | 39' |
| CB | 16 | Yared Bayeh | 12' |
| LB | 20 | Ramadan Yusef |
| CM | 3 | Mesud Mohammed | | 15' |
| CM | 8 | Amanuel Yohannes |
| CM | 7 | Surafel Dagnachew | | 82' |
| RF | 11 | Amanuel Gebremichael | | 62' |
| CF | 9 | Getaneh Kebede (c) | | 62' |
| LF | 10 | Abubeker Nassir | | 82' |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 4 | Mignot Debebe | | 15' |
| MF | 14 | Fitsum Alemu | | 62' |
| MF | 13 | Firew Solomon | | 62' |
| FW | 26 | Mujib Kassim | | 82' |
| MF | 17 | Bezabeh Meleyo | | 82' |
| Coach: ||
| Wubetu Abate ||
| GK | 12 | Márcio Rosa |
| CB | 17 | Steven Fortès |
| CB | 4 | Pico |
| CB | 2 | Stopira (c) |
| RM | 22 | Jeffry Fortes |
| CM | 5 | Nuno Borges |
| CM | 18 | Kenny Rocha Santos |
| LM | 16 | Dylan Tavares |
| RF | 11 | Garry Rodrigues | 25' | 68' |
| CF | 19 | Júlio Tavares | | 86' |
| LF | 10 | Jamiro Monteiro | | 76' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 25 | Willy Semedo | | 68' |
| MF | 7 | Patrick Andrade | | 76' |
| FW | 21 | Vagner Gonçalves | | 86' |
| Coach: ||
| Bubista ||
* Man of the Match:
* Kenny Rocha Santos (Cape Verde)
* Assistant referees:
* Mahmoud Ahmed Abouelregal (Egypt)
* Zakaria Brinsi (Morocco)
* Fourth official:
* Haythem Guirat (Tunisia)
* Video assistant referee:
* Mahmoud Mohamed Ashour (Egypt)
* Assistant video assistant referee:
* Khalil Hassani (Tunisia)

### Cameroon vs Ethiopia

| Cameroon | Ethiopia |
| GK | 24 | André Onana | 88' |
| RB | 19 | Collins Fai |
| CB | 21 | Jean-Charles Castelletto |
| CB | 5 | Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui |
| LB | 25 | Nouhou Tolo | | 79' |
| RM | 3 | Moumi Ngamaleu | | 69' |
| CM | 18 | Martin Hongla | 7' |
| CM | 8 | André-Frank Zambo Anguissa |
| LM | 12 | Karl Toko Ekambi | | 70' |
| CF | 13 | Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting | 7' | 56' |
| CF | 10 | Vincent Aboubakar (c) | | 79' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 27 | James Léa Siliki | | 56' |
| FW | 7 | Clinton N'Jie | | 69' |
| FW | 20 | Ignatius Ganago | | 70' |
| FW | 9 | Stéphane Bahoken | | 79' |
| DF | 6 | Ambroise Oyongo | | 79' |
| Coach: ||
| Toni Conceição ||
| GK | 22 | Teklemariam Shanko |
| RB | 2 | Suleman Hamid |
| CB | 15 | Aschalew Tamene |
| CB | 4 | Mignot Debebe |
| LB | 20 | Ramadan Yusef | | 73' |
| CM | 7 | Surafel Dagnachew | 15' | 46' |
| CM | 8 | Amanuel Yohannes |
| CM | 3 | Mesud Mohammed (c) | | 72' |
| RF | 11 | Amanuel Gebremichael | | 84' |
| CF | 10 | Abubeker Nassir |
| LF | 27 | Dawa Hotessa | | 73' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 13 | Firew Solomon | | 46' |
| MF | 17 | Bezabeh Meleyo | | 72' |
| DF | 25 | Ahmed Reshid | | 73' |
| FW | 19 | Shimeket Gugesa | | 73' |
| FW | 9 | Getaneh Kebede | | 84' |
| Coach: ||
| Wubetu Abate ||
* Man of the Match:
* Karl Toko Ekambi (Cameroon)
* Assistant referees:
* Olivier Safari (DR Congo)
* Gilbert Cheruiyot (Kenya)
* Fourth official:
* Mehdi Abid Charef (Algeria)
* Video assistant referee:
* Haythem Guirat (Tunisia)
* Assistant video assistant referee:
* Peter Waweru (Kenya)

### Cape Verde vs Burkina Faso

| Cape Verde | Burkina Faso |
| GK | 1 | Vozinha |
| CB | 17 | Steven Fortès | 90+2' |
| CB | 4 | Pico |
| CB | 2 | Stopira (c) |
| RM | 22 | Jeffry Fortes | | 82' |
| CM | 7 | Patrick Andrade | | 73' |
| CM | 18 | Kenny Rocha Santos |
| LM | 16 | Dylan Tavares | 36' | 69' |
| RF | 11 | Garry Rodrigues |
| CF | 19 | Júlio Tavares |
| LF | 10 | Jamiro Monteiro |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 25 | Willy Semedo | | 69' |
| FW | 20 | Ryan Mendes | | 73' |
| FW | 8 | Lisandro Semedo | | 82' |
| Coach: ||
| Bubista ||
| GK | 16 | Hervé Koffi |
| RB | 9 | Issa Kaboré |
| CB | 14 | Issoufou Dayo (c) |
| CB | 12 | Edmond Tapsoba |
| LB | 25 | Steeve Yago |
| CM | 24 | Adama Guira |
| CM | 22 | Blati Touré | 83' |
| RW | 20 | Gustavo Sangaré | | 69' |
| AM | 21 | Cyrille Bayala | | 78' |
| LW | 19 | Hassane Bandé | | 90+1' |
| CF | 15 | Abdoul Tapsoba | | 69' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 17 | Zakaria Sanogo | | 69' |
| MF | 18 | Ismahila Ouédraogo | | 69' |
| FW | 11 | Mohamed Konaté | | 78' |
| MF | 8 | Dramane Nikièma | | 90+1' |
| Coach: ||
| Kamou Malo ||
* Man of the Match:
* Blati Touré (Burkina Faso)
* Assistant referees:
* Mahmoud Ahmed Abouelregal (Egypt)
* Attia Amsaaed (Libya)
* Fourth official:
* Daniel Nii Laryea (Ghana)
* Video assistant referee:
* Mahmoud Mohamed Ashour (Egypt)
* Assistant video assistant referee:
* Mohammed Abdallah Ibrahim (Sudan)

### Cape Verde vs Cameroon

| Cape Verde | Cameroon |
| GK | 1 | Vozinha |
| CB | 3 | Diney | 65' | 82' |
| CB | 4 | Pico |
| CB | 2 | Stopira (c) |
| RWB | 22 | Jeffry Fortes |
| LWB | 16 | Dylan Tavares |
| CM | 25 | Willy Semedo | | 67' |
| CM | 7 | Patrick Andrade |
| CM | 18 | Kenny Rocha Santos | | 78' |
| CF | 8 | Lisandro Semedo | | 46' |
| CF | 10 | Jamiro Monteiro | | 78' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 11 | Garry Rodrigues | | 46' |
| DF | 24 | João Paulo | | 67' |
| MF | 26 | Nenass | | 78' |
| FW | 15 | Willis Furtado | | 78' |
| DF | 17 | Steven Fortès | | 82' |
| Coach: ||
| Bubista ||
| GK | 24 | André Onana |
| RB | 19 | Collins Fai | 45+1' | 87' |
| CB | 4 | Harold Moukoudi |
| CB | 5 | Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui |
| LB | 25 | Nouhou Tolo |
| DM | 14 | Samuel Gouet | | 87' |
| RM | 3 | Moumi Ngamaleu | | 70' |
| CM | 15 | Pierre Kunde | | 62' |
| CM | 8 | André-Frank Zambo Anguissa | 81' |
| LM | 12 | Karl Toko Ekambi | | 70' |
| CF | 10 | Vincent Aboubakar (c) |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 27 | James Léa Siliki | | 62' |
| FW | 7 | Clinton N'Jie | | 70' |
| FW | 13 | Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting | | 70' |
| MF | 26 | Jean Onana | | 87' |
| DF | 17 | Olivier Mbaizo | | 87' |
| Coach: ||
| Toni Conceição ||
* Man of the Match:
* Pico (Cape Verde)
* Assistant referees:
* Khalil Hassani (Tunisia)
* Mohammed Abdallah Ibrahim (Sudan)
* Fourth official:
* Dahane Beida (Mauritania)
* Video assistant referee:
* Haythem Guirat (Tunisia)
* Assistant video assistant referee:
* Ahmed Hossam Taha (Egypt)

### Burkina Faso vs Ethiopia

| Burkina Faso | Ethiopia |
| GK | 23 | Farid Ouédraogo |
| RB | 9 | Issa Kaboré |
| CB | 14 | Issoufou Dayo |
| CB | 12 | Edmond Tapsoba |
| LB | 25 | Steeve Yago |
| CM | 24 | Adama Guira |
| CM | 22 | Blati Touré |
| RW | 10 | Bertrand Traoré (c) |
| AM | 20 | Gustavo Sangaré | 63' |
| LW | 21 | Cyrille Bayala | 63' |
| CF | 19 | Hassane Bandé | 76' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 18 | Ismahila Ouédraogo | 63' |
| FW | 28 | Dango Ouattara | 63' |
| FW | 17 | Zakaria Sanogo | 76' |
| Coach: ||
| Kamou Malo ||
| GK | 22 | Teklemariam Shanko |
| RB | 21 | Asrat Tunjo |
| CB | 15 | Aschalew Tamene |
| CB | 16 | Yared Bayeh |
| LB | 20 | Ramadan Yusef |
| CM | 8 | Amanuel Yohannes |
| CM | 12 | Yihun Endashew | 36' | 60' |
| RW | 27 | Dawa Hotessa | | 60' |
| AM | 7 | Surafel Dagnachew | | 75' |
| LW | 10 | Abubeker Nassir |
| CF | 9 | Getaneh Kebede (c) | 82' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 24 | Mesfin Tafesse | | 60' |
| MF | 17 | Bezabeh Meleyo | | 60' |
| FW | 11 | Amanuel Gebremichael | | 75' |
| Coach: ||
| Wubetu Abate ||
* Man of the Match:
* Amanuel Yohannes (Ethiopia)
* Assistant referees:
* Mostafa Akarkad (Morocco)
* Samuel Pwadutakam (Nigeria)
* Fourth official:
* Bernard Camille (Seychelles)
* Video assistant referee:
* Mahmoud Mohamed Ashour (Egypt)
* Assistant video assistant referee:
* Lahlou Benbraham (Algeria)