Your guide to the Africa Cup of Nations
The 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations begins on Saturday, as hosts Ivory Coast play Guinea-Bissau in the tournament opener.
In total, 24 countries will compete in 52 matches across 29 days for the right to be crowned African champions - a title currently held by Senegal, following their penalty-shootout victory over Egypt two years ago.
Two Manchester United players, in Sofyan Amrabat and Andre Onana, have been selected by their respective countries, Morocco and Cameroon, and both will have a realistic hope of lifting the trophy in Abidjan on Sunday 11 February.
Here's a quick guide to the groups and fixtures ahead of the big kick-off, as well as knockout-round dates and a list of the other Premier League players involved...
United duo called up for Africa Cup of Nations
ArticleSofyan Amrabat and Andre Onana have both been selected for the upcoming international tournament.
WHO’S IN WHICH GROUP?
The top two sides from each group qualify for the round of 16, alongside the four best third-placed teams.
Group A: Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau
Group B: Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde, Mozambique
Group C: Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea, Gambia
Group D: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Angola
Group E: Tunisia, Mali, South Africa, Namibia
Group F: Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia, Tanzania
WHEN WILL AMRABAT AND ONANA PLAY?
Cameroon are bidding to claim their sixth continental crown and the Indomitable Lions start their campaign by playing Gambia in Yamoussoukro on Monday 15 January.
A mouthwatering repeat of the 2002 final, against Senegal, is then in store on Friday 19 January, before Group C draws to a close on Tuesday 23 January, when Rigobert Song’s side face Guinea.
Morocco, who became the first African side to reach the World Cup semi-finals in 2022, are pre-tournament favourites but have to wait until Wednesday 17 January to play their first game, against Tanzania.
The Atlas Lions, who haven't won this competition since 1976, tackle DR Congo four days later, on Sunday 21 January, before a meeting with Zambia on Wednesday 24 January – the final day of the group stages.
WHEN ARE THE KNOCKOUT ROUNDS?
The round of 16 takes place between Friday 27 and Monday 30 January, with the quarter-finals following on Friday 2 and Saturday 3 February.
The semi-finals are scheduled for Wednesday 7 February and the winners of those games progress to the final on Sunday 11 February, with a third-place play-off contested between the losing sides the day before.
CAN I WATCH ON TV?
Yes. Viewers in the UK will be able to see all 52 matches live on Sky Sports.
WHO IS INVOLVED FROM OTHER CLUBS?
The Premier League is heavily represented, with 29 players from England’s top flight named among the squads. Burnley, Manchester City and Newcastle United are the only clubs without a player picked.
Arsenal: Mohamed Elneny (Egypt)
Aston Villa: Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso)
Bournemouth: Antoine Semenyo (Ghana), Dango Outtara (Burkina Faso)
Brentford: Frank Onyeka (Nigeria), Yoane Wissa (DR Congo)
Brighton: Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast)
Chelsea: Nicolas Jackson (Senegal)
Crystal Palace: Jordan Ayew (Ghana)
Everton: Idrissa Gueye (Senegal)
Fulham: Fode Ballo-Toure (Senegal), Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey (Nigeria)
Liverpool: Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Luton: Issa Kabore (Burkina Faso)
Nottingham Forest: Willy Boly, Serge Aurier, Ibrahim Sangare (Ivory Coast), Ola Aina (Nigeria), Cheikhou Kouyate, Moussa Niakhate (Senegal)
Sheffield United: Yasser Larouci (Algeria), Anis Ben Slimane (Tunisia)
Tottenham: Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal), Yves Bissouma (Mali)
West Ham: Mohammed Kudus (Ghana), Nayef Aguerd (Morocco)
Wolves: Rayan Ait-Nouri (Algeria), Boubacar Traore (Mali)
United play Tottenham, Wolves, West Ham and Aston Villa in the Premier League between now and the end of the tournament.