The 2021 African cup of Nations (AFCON) is scheduled to take place in Cameroon next month with a total of 24 nations set to participate in the competition.
The 24 nations have been grouped into six pools of four teams and will run from January 9, to February 6, 2022.
TeamKenya will be taking you through an in depth analysis of each group and how different teams are preparing for the competition.
Group B
We focus on group B which consists of Senegal, Malawi, Guinea and Zimbabwe.
The group B matches will be played at the newly constructed Kouekong Omnisport Stadium in Baoffusam in Cameroons west capital.
Senegal
Senegal are seen as group favourites to top the group as they try to bag home the trophy in their 15th attempt.
In 2019 the Teranga Lions finished as runners up after losing to Algeria.
The side which is managed by Coach Aliou Cisse will be hoping the likes of Sadio Mane, Eduard Mendy and Idrissa Gana Gueye.
Kalidou Koulibaly the team's captain availability is in doubt after the centre back was injured while playing for Napoli in a Serie A match.
Senegal group stage fixtures
Senegal vs Zimbabwe (January 10)
Senegal vs Guinea (January 14)
Malawi vs Senegal (January 18)
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe will be making their fifth appearance in the tournament making it their third consecutive appearance since 2017.
The Warriors have never gone beyond the group stage at the African tournament finishing bottom of the group in their past two appearances.
The side which is led by Coach Norman Mapeza will be relying on home based players in the competition in addition to foreign based players like Nakamba (Aston Villa), Khama Billiat (Keizer chiefs) and Tawanda Maswanhise (Leicester).
Zimbabwe group stage fixtures
Senegal vs Zimbabwe (January 10)
Malawi vs Zimbabwe (January 14)
Zimbabwe vs Guinea (January 18)
Guinea
Guinea will be making their 13th appearance in the African tournament as they hope to improve from their last appearance after exiting the tournament at the round of 16.
The team which is captained by Nabby Keita (Liverpool) will be heading into AFCON with little well-known names.
Guinea recently named their caretaker coach to lead their teams at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon which kicks off next month.
French-born former Guinea international Diawara took over temporarily after French coach Didier Six was sacked in October after Guinea failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
Guinea group stage fixtures
Guinea vs Malawi (January 10)
Senegal vs Guinea (January 14)
Zimbabwe vs Guinea (January 18)
Malawi
Malawi will be making their third appearance at AFCON with previous participation being in 1984 and recently 2010.
The Malawi Flames have never gone past the group stage in the African tournament after twice exiting in the group stage.
Malawi squad is with no major names known in football with most of their players coming from their domestic league.
Malawi began their training early after their domestic league season came to an end months ago.
Malawi group stage fixtures
Guinea vs Malawi (January 10)
Malawi vs Zimbabwe (January 14)
Malawi vs Senegal (January 18)