The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will take place in Egypt from June 21 to July 19, featuring 24 teams competing for the continental title. This edition marks the first time the tournament expands to 24 nations, all aiming to succeed Cameroon, the 2017 champions who defeated Egypt in the previous final. Teams are divided into six groups of four, each battling to advance from the group stage and ultimately claim the trophy.
The tournament kicks off with a high-profile opening match at Cairo International Stadium on June 21, where hosts Egypt, runners-up in 2017, will face Zimbabwe. Alongside this, DR Congo will meet Uganda on the same day. Group stage matches continue until July 2, with the top two teams from each group and the four best third-placed teams progressing to the round of 16.
Matches up to the quarter-finals will be played across six stadiums in different cities, while semi-finals and the final will be hosted entirely in Cairo. This centralized approach ensures top fixtures are held in the capital, providing a grand stage for the decisive matches.
Group A, hosted at Cairo International Stadium, will see Egypt face Zimbabwe on June 21 at 10:00 PM, and DR Congo take on Uganda at 4:30 PM. Egypt will then play DR Congo on June 26 at 10:00 PM, while Uganda meets Zimbabwe at 7:00 PM. The group concludes on June 30, with Uganda facing Egypt at 9:00 PM and Zimbabwe playing DR Congo at 9:00 PM at the Air Force Stadium.
Group B, in Alexandria, opens with Nigeria against Burundi on June 22 at 7:00 PM and Guinea versus Madagascar at 10:00 PM. Nigeria will take on Guinea on June 26 at 4:30 PM, followed by Madagascar against Burundi on June 27 at 4:30 PM. The group ends on June 30 with Madagascar versus Nigeria at 6:00 PM and Burundi versus Guinea at 6:00 PM at Al-Salam Stadium, Cairo.
Group C, held at Cairo’s Air Force Stadium, begins on June 23 with Senegal facing Tanzania at 7:00 PM and Algeria against Kenya at 10:00 PM. Senegal plays Algeria on June 27 at 7:00 PM, while Kenya faces Tanzania at 10:00 PM. The group stage wraps on July 1 with Kenya versus Senegal and Tanzania against Algeria at 9:00 PM at Al-Salam Stadium.
Group D, hosted at Al-Salam Stadium, opens with Morocco versus Namibia on June 23 at 4:30 PM and Ivory Coast against South Africa on June 24 at 4:30 PM. Subsequent matches include Morocco versus Ivory Coast on June 28 at 7:00 PM and South Africa against Namibia at 10:00 PM. The group concludes on July 1 with South Africa versus Morocco at 6:00 PM and Namibia against Ivory Coast at 6:00 PM at Air Force Stadium.
Group E matches in Suez begin on June 24 with Tunisia facing Angola at 7:00 PM and Mali against Mauritania at 10:00 PM. Tunisia meets Mali on June 28 at 4:30 PM, and Mauritania plays Angola on June 29 at 4:30 PM. The final group matches occur on July 2 with Mauritania versus Tunisia and Angola against Mali at 9:00 PM in Ismailia.
Group F, in Ismailia, starts on June 25 with Cameroon facing Guinea-Bissau at 7:00 PM and Ghana against Benin at 10:00 PM. On June 29, Cameroon meets Ghana at 7:00 PM and Benin plays Guinea-Bissau at 10:00 PM. The group closes on July 2 with Benin against Cameroon and Guinea-Bissau versus Ghana at 6:00 PM in Suez.
The knockout stages follow with the round of 16 from July 5 to 8, quarter-finals on July 10 and 11, semi-finals on July 14, third-place match on July 17, and the final on July 19, promising an exciting conclusion to the 32nd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.
