CAF Release Criteria For Group Rankings

After the confusion around whether the Warriors would make it through to the last 16 as one of the four best third placed teams, if Malawi happens to lose against Senegal and the Warriors win against Guinea with a big margin, the Confederation of Africa Football has released the criteria for grouping teams at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.

The criteria for the ranking in the groups were published on CAF website on Monday ahead of the beginning of the final round of the group matches and confirms the exit of Zimbabwe Warriors from the competition, despite what happens in their final group match against Guinea on Tuesday.

Read the full criteria below:

After the conclusion of the group stage of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021, teams will be ranked in their respective groups according to the competition regulations:

– In case of equality between two teams at the end of the group matches, the teams will be ranked according to the following criteria in the order listed below:

· 74.1.1 The greatest number of points obtained in the match between the two teams concerned;

74.1.2 The goal difference in all group matches;

· 74.1.3 The greatest number of goals scored in all group matches

· 74.1.4 A drawing of lots conducted by the Organizing Committee

74.2 In case of equality between more than two teams at the end of the group matches, the teams will be ranked according to the following criteria in the order listed below:

· 74.2.1 The greatest number of points obtained in the matches between the teams concerned;

· 74.2.2 The best goal difference in the matches between the teams concerned;

· 74.2.3 The greatest number of goals scored in the matches between the teams concerned;

74.2.4 If after applying criteria 74.2.1 to 74.2.3, two teams are still tied, 74.2.1 to 74.2.3 criteria are again applied to matches played between the two teams in question to determine the final ranking of the two teams. If this procedure does not allow separating them, the criteria listed from 74.2.5 to 74.2.7 are applied in the indicated order;

· 74.2.5 The goal difference in all group matches;

· 74.2.6 The greatest number of goals scored in all group matches;

· 74.2.7 A drawing of lots conducted by the Organizing Committee

Criteria of defining the best 4 thirds in the groups

75.4 The four best teams among those ranked third will be determined as follows:

a) greater number of points obtained in all group matches;

b) goal difference resulting from all group matches;

c) greater number of goals scored in all group matches;

d) drawing of lots by CAF Organising Committee.

Additional comment actions

Though we feel like a team shouldn’t be proved that they are a better team only by beating you on one occasion, but rules are rules.

If anything, goal difference is better proof that you’re the better team as you’ve performed better over more matches.