African Cup of Nations 2022 simulations (December 2021)

The African Cup of Nations 2021 was initially scheduled for June 2021 in Cameroon, but soon moved back to January 2021 due to unfavourable climatic conditions in this time of the year. Then the COVID-19 pandemic forced a postponement of this tournament to January 2022. 

Now it  seems ready to be played. Proper preparation for the participating teams is still hampered though by COVID-19: most teams stay in homeland training camps and only a few preparatory friendlies are played next week before the continental showpiece kicks off on Sunday January 9th in Cameroon.

It has the same format as the AFCON 2019 in Egypt with 24 teams in 6 groups of 4 and a Round of 16 for which the 6 group numbers one and two qualify plus the 4 best group numbers three.

FIFA ranking: December 2021 final preview

FIFA will publish the December ranking next Thursday December 23rd. This final preview contains 59 matches, out of 59 matches played since November 17th. 

Only today's final matches in group B of the South East Asian Championship 2021 (Malaysia-Indonesia and Vietnam-Cambodia) are to be played and included:

		MAS			IDN
		pts	pos		pts	pos
Malaysia win		1039,53	153		987,31	165
Malaysia draw		1037,03	153		989,81	165
Malaysia loss		1034,53	154		992,31	164
		VIE			CAM
		pts	pos		pts	pos
Vietnam win		1212,54	98		966,61	171
Vietnam draw		1210,04	98		969,11	170
Vietnam loss		1207,54	100		971,61	170

Elo predicts a Malaysia draw and a Vietnam win.