Africa Cup of Nations

Africa Cup of Nations (Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, founded in 1957) - the main international competition for African national teams organised under the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and typically staged every two years. Regulations: the finals feature 24 teams split into 6 groups of 4 for the group stage, teams receive 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss, the top two in each group and the four best third-placed teams advance to the round of 16. If teams are level on points in a group, for two teams the tie-breakers are head-to-head points, then overall goal difference, then overall goals scored, then drawing of lots, for three or more teams the tie-breakers are points in matches among the tied teams, goal difference in matches among the tied teams, goals scored in matches among the tied teams, if two teams remain level the head-to-head criteria are reapplied only to those two, then overall goal difference, overall goals scored, then drawing of lots. The best third-placed teams are ranked by points, then goal difference, then goals scored, then drawing of lots. The knockout phase starts at the round of 16 and is played as single-elimination matches, in the round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals a draw leads to extra time of 2 x 15 minutes and then, if required, a penalty shoot-out, the third-place match goes straight to penalties if level after 90 minutes, the final uses extra time and then penalties if needed.