The official draw of the 2021 African Cup NSW Men’s Competition took place on Saturday at the Western Sydney Wanderers Football Centre in Blacktown, Sydney.
Sixteen (16) teams representing nations from across the African continent will battle for the title in the 22nd edition of the tournament, starting on 20 November. Last year’s tournament included players from over 30 different nations participating in a festival of football.
Following the culmination of a pulsating 2020 tournament, fourteen nations return for this year’s competition including defending champions Ghana, runners up South Sudan and third placed side Cape Verde.
Two nations will be welcomed back to the competition led by former champions Nigeria and Liberia looking to make an impact upon their return.
African Cup NSW President, Bernard Muchemwa, said: “After the disruption and disconnection of 2021, we are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to hold the African Cup NSW in 2021.”
“As NSW slowly comes back online after months of stasis due to COVID, this is an important opportunity for our communities from all backgrounds to once again find connection, cultural fusion and joy in coming together through football.”
With the top position in the draw, Ghana will commence their title defence against returning powerhouse Liberia. Full fixtures will be released on Thursday, 4 November 2021 with kick off times of the Group Stage games announced at a later date.
The tournament will once again be hosted in partnership with A-Leagues club, the Western Sydney Wanderers with their football complex home to the African Cup NSW for second year.
“We would like to once again acknowledge and thank the Western Sydney Wanderers for their unwavering support of this tournament for a second year,” Muchewa said.
“The Wanderers are an organisation that understands the importance of community and have worked to foster that in the Western Sydney region. We are proud to be a part of their greater football family.”
The 2021 theme for the African Cup NSW is #NoLimit with the tournament providing a platform for players and coaches to enjoy the game and work to achieve their unlimited potential – on and off the pitch. On the pitch, 2020 African Cup NSW participants Charles M’Mombwa and Lachlan Rose (DR Congo) secured A-Leagues deals, while Jing Reece (South Sudan) earned a move to AGF in Denmark.
Off the pitch, several members of the African Cup NSW community continue to help build their local neighbourhoods with their efforts in social work, aged care and supporting youth from the African diaspora.
Many former African Cup NSW players return in 2021 to continue the tradition as coaches and administrators to foster the next generation.
With the women’s competition set to expand and a boys segment returning, the 22nd edition of the African Cup NSW is set to be the biggest yet.
African Cup NSW | 2021 Groups
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
| Ghana | South Sudan | Cape Verde | DR Congo |
| Ivory Coast | Mali | Nigeria | Egypt |
| Tanzania | Guinea | Sierra Leone | Zimbabwe |
| Liberia | Sudan | South Africa | Senegal |
