2019 Africa Cup of Nations

Host selection

After the CAF Executive Committee meeting on 24 January 2014, it was announced that there were six official candidates for the 2019 edition:

Bids:

• Algeria
• Cameroon
• Ivory Coast

Rejected Bids:

• Guinea / Guinea-Bissau / Liberia / Sierra Leone
• Kenya / Uganda
• Malawi / Zambia / Zimbabwe
• Nigeria
• Senegal

This list was different from the list of the host nation bids for both the 2019 and 2021 edition of the Cup of Nations as announced by CAF in November 2013, with Gabon also on the original list, but Cameroon not on it. Among the six official candidates, Algeria, Guinea and Ivory Coast also bid for hosting the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Democratic Republic of the Congo had originally put themselves forward as host candidates but withdrew in July 2014. Security concerns and threats from various militant groups particularly in the eastern part of the country were an early issue with a Congolese bid. Before bidding solo Guinea was part of a four-way joint bid with Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone and Liberia, similarly Zambia was originally part of a joint bid with Malawi and Zimbabwe. Other nations who expressed early interest in hosting were 2013 champions Nigeria, Senegal, and a joint bid of Kenya and Uganda.

The decision of the host country was postponed from early 2014 to grant each bidding country adequate time to receive the inspection delegation. After the final vote at the CAF Executive Committee meeting, on 20 September 2014, the CAF announced the hosts for the 2019, 2021 and 2023 AFCON tournaments: 2019 to Cameroon, 2021 to Ivory Coast, and 2023 to Guinea.

New bid process

It was expected that Cameroon would host this edition but it was sidelined by the CAF on 30 November 2018 in Accra, Ghana for non-compliance with the specifications, CAF announced that they would be receiving applications for the new hosts until 14 December 2018.

Bids:

• Egypt
• South Africa

The organization of the competition was finally awarded to Egypt on 8 January 2019 by the CAF Executive Committee meeting in Dakar, Senegal. Voters had a choice between two countries after Morocco's sports minister confirmed that his country was not interested in hosting: Egypt and South Africa.

North Africa will host the tournament for the first time in 13 years after being hosted by Egypt also in 2006.

This is the fifth time that Egypt will host the African Cup after 1959, 1974, 1986 and the 2006 to become the country that has hosted it for the most times in the continent.

Prize money

The CAF increased in 2019, the prize money to be shared among the teams participating in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Marketing

Sponsorship

In July 2016, Total secured an eight-year sponsorship package from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to support 10 of its principal competitions. Total started with the Africa Cup of Nations that was held in Gabon in 2017 therefore renaming it to Total Africa Cup of Nations.

Mascot

The organizing board of the 2019 African Cup of Nations revealed the AFCON 2019 Mascot; "Tut", which was inspired by the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun. His kit bears resemblance to Egypt's home colors, with the map of Africa visible on his shirt as well as the tournament's logo.

Match ball

Umbro replaced Mitre as the Cup of Nations match ball provider and the official match ball for this tournament, named Neo Pro, was unveiled on 29 May 2019.

Qualification

Main article: 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

]]

Due to Morocco withdrawing from being hosts of the 2015 edition, CAF banned the national team of Morocco from entering the 2017 and 2019 Africa Cups of Nations. However, the ban was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, meaning Morocco, having qualified for this edition of the African Cup of Nations, could participate in the tournament.

Due to the withdrawal of Chad during 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, they were banned from entering the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Qualified teams

The following teams qualified for the tournament:

Venues

| shape-color1 = #ce1126 | mark-coord1 = | mark-title1 = Cairo | mark-description1 = Cairo International Stadium 30 June Stadium Al Salam Stadium

| mark-coord2 = | shape-color2 = #ce1126 | mark-title2 = Alexandria | mark-description2 = Alexandria Stadium

| mark-coord3 = | shape-color3 = #ce1126 | mark-title3 = Ismailia | mark-description3 = Ismailia Stadium

| mark-coord4 = | shape-color4 = #ce1126 | mark-title4 = Suez | mark-description4 = Suez Stadium

With the Africa Cup of Nations expanded from 16 to 24 teams, at least six venues were expected to be used. After the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, the CAF agreed to increase the number of teams from 16 to 24, following the UEFA Euro 2016.

After being awarded the bid, initially Egypt chose eight stadiums to host the tournament. The eight stadiums were Cairo International Stadium and Al Salam Stadium in Cairo, Alexandria Stadium and Haras El Hodoud Stadium in Alexandria, Egyptian Army Stadium and Suez Stadium in Suez, Ismailia Stadium in Ismailia and Al Masry Club Stadium in Port Said. Later, Al Salam Stadium was replaced with 30 June Stadium, which was another stadium located in Cairo. It was expected that the famous Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria and Osman Ahmed Osman Stadium in Cairo would be used in the tournament, but they weren't selected.

On 17 February 2019, it was confirmed that only six stadiums would be used. The six venues were Cairo International Stadium and 30 June Stadium in Cairo, Alexandria Stadium in Alexandria, Suez Stadium in Suez, Ismailia Stadium in Ismailia and Al Masry Club Stadium in Port Said.

However, on 13 March 2019, Al Masry Club Stadium in Port Said was replaced by Al Salam Stadium in Cairo after discovering a problem with one of the stadium's main stands.

Match officials

The following referees were chosen for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Referees

• Mustapha Ghorbal
• Hélder Martins Rodrigues de Carvalho
• Joshua Bondo
• Pacifique Ndabihawenimana
• Sidi Alioum
• Gehad Grisha
• Amin Omar
• Ibrahim Nour El Din
• Bamlak Tessema Weyesa
• Eric Otogo-Castane
• Bakary Gassama
• Peter Waweru
• Andofetra Rakotojaona
• Mahamadou Keita
• Beida Dahane
• Ahmad Imetehaz Heeralall
• Noureddine El Jaafari
• Rédouane Jiyed
• Jean Jacques Ndala Ngambo
• Louis Hakizimana
• Maguette Ndiaye
• Issa Sy
• Bernard Camille
• Victor Gomes
• Sadok Selmi
• Youssef Essrayri
• Haythem Guirat
• Janny Sikazwe

Assistant referees

• Mokrane Gourari
• Abdelhak Etchiali
• Jerson Emiliano Dos Santos
• Seydou Tiama
• Nguegoue Elvis Guy Noupue
• Evarist Menkouande
• Issa Yaya
• Soulaimane Almadine
• Tahssen Abo El Sadat
• Abouelregal Mahmoud
• Ahmed Hossam Taha
• Timothy Kiprono Kirui
• Tesfagiorghis Berhe
• Samuel Temesgin
• Sidibe Sidiki
• Gilbert Cheruiyot
• Souru Phatsoane
• Attia Amsaaed
• Lionel Andrianantenaina
• Azgaou Lahcen
• Mustapha Akarkad
• Arsenio Maringule
• Mahamadou Yahaya
• Baba Adel
• Oliver Safari
• El Hadji Malick Samba
• Zakhele Thusi Siwela
• Mohammed Ibrahim
• Waleed Ahmed Ali
• Yamen Mellouchi
• Anouar Hmila
• Mark Ssonko

Video assistant referees

The EFA announced the video assistant referees (VARs) would be introduced during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, starting from the quarter-finals.

• Benoît Millot
• Pol van Boekel

Squads

Main article: 2019 Africa Cup of Nations squads

Each team had to register a squad of 23 players (Regulations Article 72).

Format

Only the hosts received an automatic qualification spot, with the other 23 teams qualifying through a qualification tournament. At the finals, the 24 teams were drawn into six groups of four teams each. The teams in each group played a single round robin. After the group stage, the top two teams and the four best third-placed teams advanced to the round of 16. The winners advanced to the quarter-finals. The winners of the quarter-finals advanced to the semi-finals. The losers of the semi-finals played in a third place play-off, while winners of the semi-finals played in the final.

Draw

The draw took place on 12 April 2019, 20:00 CAT (UTC+2), facing the Sphinx and the Pyramids in Giza, Egypt. The 24 teams were drawn into six groups of four teams.

The draw procedure was approved by the CAF Executive Committee on 11 April 2019. For the draw, the teams were allocated to four pots based on the FIFA World Rankings of April 2019 (shown in parentheses). Hosts Egypt were automatically assigned to position A1. Defending champions Cameroon were also automatically placed into Pot 1.

Group stage

The top two teams of each group, along with the best four third-placed teams, advanced to the round of 16.

All times are local, CAT (UTC+2).

Tiebreakers

Teams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss), and if tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria were applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings (Regulations Article 74):

1. Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
4. If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams were still tied, all head-to-head criteria above were reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
5. Goal difference in all group matches;
6. Goals scored in all group matches;
7. Drawing of lots.

Group A

Main article: 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group A

Group B

Main article: 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group B

Group C

Main article: 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group C

Group D

Main article: 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group D

Group E

Main article: 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group E

Group F

Main article: 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group F

Ranking of third-placed teams

Knockout stage

Main article: 2019 Africa Cup of Nations knockout stage

In the knockout stage, extra time and a penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winner if necessary, except for the third place match, where a direct penalty shoot-out, without any extra time, was used to decide the winner if necessary (Regulations Article 75).

Bracket

Round of 16

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Third place play-off

Final

Main article: 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Final

Statistics

Goalscorers

• Odion Ighalo

• Riyad Mahrez

• Adam Ounas

• Cédric Bakambu

• Sadio Mané

• Youcef Belaïli

• Baghdad Bounedjah

• Mickaël Poté

• Stéphane Bahoken

• Ahmed El Mohamady

• Mohamed Salah

• Jordan Ayew

• Mohamed Yattara

• Jonathan Kodjia

• Wilfried Zaha

• Michael Olunga

• Carolus Andriamatsinoro

• Youssef En-Nesyri

• Bongani Zungu

• Youssef Msakni

• Emmanuel Okwi

• Sofiane Feghouli

• Islam Slimani

• Djalma

• Moise Adilehou

• Clinton N'Jie

• Banana Yaya

• Britt Assombalonga

• Jonathan Bolingi

• Chancel Mbemba

• Trézéguet

• André Ayew

• Thomas Partey

• Sory Kaba

• François Kamano

• Maxwel Cornet

• Serey Dié

• Max Gradel

• Johanna Omolo

• Anicet Abel

• Ibrahim Amada

• Faneva Imà Andriatsima

• Marco Ilaimaharitra

• Lalaïna Nomenjanahary

• Abdoulay Diaby

• Amadou Haidara

• Moussa Marega

• Diadie Samassékou

• Adama Traoré I

• Adama Traoré II

• Moctar Sidi El Hacen

• Mbark Boussoufa

• Joslin Kamatuka

• Samuel Chukwueze

• Alex Iwobi

• Kenneth Omeruo

• William Troost-Ekong

• Keita Baldé

• Krépin Diatta

• Idrissa Gueye

• Ismaïla Sarr

• Thembinkosi Lorch

• Simon Msuva

• Mbwana Samatta

• Wahbi Khazri

• Taha Yassine Khenissi

• Ferjani Sassi

• Naïm Sliti

• Patrick Kaddu

• Khama Billiat

• Itamunua Keimuine (against Morocco)

• William Troost-Ekong (against Algeria)

• Rami Bedoui (against Ghana)

• Dylan Bronn (against Senegal)

Awards

The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament:

CAF AFCON Team of the Tournament

Tournament rankings

References

References

1. (19 July 2019). "Pulling the strings from midfield like a boss Ismaël Bennacer is the #TotalAFCON2019 best player".
2. (29 September 2018). "DECISIONS OF CAF EXECUTIVE {{sic". Confédération Africaine de Football.
3. (20 July 2017). "DECISIONS OF CAF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE – 20 JULY 2017". CAF.
4. (20 July 2017). "Une CAN à 24 dès 2019 et en été". RFI.fr.
5. (20 September 2014). "CAMEROON TO HOST 2019, COTE D'IVOIRE FOR 2021, GUINEA 2023". Confédération Africaine de Football.
6. (30 November 2018). "Cameroon stripped of hosting 2019 Africa Cup of Nations". [[France 24]].
7. (30 November 2018). "D-day for 2019 Africa Cup of Nations hosts Cameroon". [[SowetanLIVE]].
8. Etchells, Daniel. (8 January 2019). "Egypt named as hosts of 2019 Africa Cup of Nations".
9. (28 January 2019). "Ramadan pushes Africa Cup of Nations back by one week". SuperSport.
10. (19 July 2019). "Senegal 0 Algeria 1". BBC Sport.
11. (18 July 2019). "Tunisia 0 Nigeria 1". BBC Sport.
12. (26 January 2014). "Decisions made by the CAF Executive Committee, convened January 24th 2014". Cafonline.com.
13. [Goal.com]. (27 November 2013). "Six nations submit bids for 2019 & 2021 Africa Cup of Nations".
14. (25 July 2014). "Football: DR Congo withdraw CAN candidature". [[Agence France-Presse]].
15. [http://www.cafonline.com/competition/_/news/16308-dr-congo-bids-to-host-2019-africa-cup-of-nations.html DR Congo bids to host 2019 Africa Cup of Nations] Official Website. Retrieved 16 February 2013
16. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21479667 DR Congo wants to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations] BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 February 2013
17. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/15100016 Nigeria target 2019 Africa Cup of Nations] Retrieved 16 February 2013
18. [http://en.starafrica.com/football/dr-congo-bid-to-host-2019-afcon.html DR Congo bid to host 2019 Afcon] {{webarchive. link. (2 December 2013 Star-Africa.com. Retrieved 16 February 2013)
19. [http://en.starafrica.com/news/kenya-names-amrouche-as-coach-bids-for-2019-cup.html Kenya names Amrouche as coach, bids for 2019 Cup] {{webarchive. link. (2 December 2013 Star-Africa. Retrieved 20 February 2013)
20. (20 September 2014). "Nations Cup: 2019, 2012 and shock 2023 hosts unveiled by Caf". BBC Sport.
21. (30 November 2018). "Cameroon stripped of hosting 2019 Africa Cup of Nations". BBC.
22. (10 December 2018). "CAN 2019 : le pays hôte sera connu le 9 janvier". Le Monde.
23. (2019-04-15). "La CAF plus généreuse avec les 24 de la CAN 2019". cafonline.com.
24. [http://www.cafonline.com/en-US/NewsCenter/News/NewsDetails?id=z5SPEjKTyig8WgDEfOXGfg%3D%3D "TOTAL, TITLE SPONSOR OF THE AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS AND PARTNER OF AFRICAN FOOTBALL"], ''CAF'', 21 July 2016
25. [https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/8/70587/2019-AFCON-Mascot-revealed "2019 AFCON Mascot revealed"], ''Egypt Today'', 20 May 2019
26. "CAF Umbro Neo Pro is official match ball of Africa Cup 2019 | Football Balls Database". Football-balls.com.
27. (6 February 2015). "Morocco Fined, Banned From Two AFCON Tournaments". CAF Online.
28. (2 April 2015). "Morocco win appeal over Afcon 2017 and 2019 bans". BBC Sport.
29. (27 March 2016). "Withdrawal of Chad from AFCON 2017 qualifiers". CAF.
30. (17 February 2019). "الدفاع الجوي يستضيف مباريات أمم إفريقيا بدلا من السلام". [[FilGoal]].
31. (13 March 2019). "Al Salam stadium to replace Port Said in AFCON". [[KingFut]].
32. (6 June 2019). "Ghana's top referee Daniel Laryea axed from list for 2019 AFCON". ghanaweb.com.
33. (6 June 2019). "Match Officials for @Total AFCON 2019 confirmed. 26 Referees and 30 Assistant Referees make up the list #TotalAFCON2019.".
34. (30 January 2019). "CAN 2019 : La Var Serait Utilisée Dès Les Huitièmes De Finale".
35. "Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations". Confederation of African Football.
36. (10 April 2019). "Draw time zones".
37. (26 January 2019). "Decisions of the Emergency Committee Of the Confédération Africaine de Football 26 January 2019". [[Confederation of African Football.
38. (12 April 2019). "The AFCON 2019 games revealed". [[Confederation of African Football]].
39. (11 April 2019). "Draw Procedure finalized, Pots revealed". [[Confederation of African Football]].
40. "Africa Cup of Nations 2019 awards - Africa Cup of Nations 2019".
41. "AFC Competition Operations Manual (Edition 2023)". Asian Football Confederation.