The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations is well underway and plenty of drama has unfolded in the first week of the tournament, with the first two group stage fixtures having already taken place.
There have been 12 games that have already provided plenty of entertainment and laid down a marker for what is yet to come for the remainder of the tournament.
Hosts Cameroon opened the tournament with a 2-1 victory over Burkina Faso, while the remaining 11 games saw nine victories and two draws played out over the six groups.
And all of the nine victories ended with a 1-0 scoreline, perhaps showing how tightly contested the games can be at this tournament.
Premier League stars Sadio Mane and Kelechi Iheanacho scored decisive winners for their respective sides in the first round of fixtures, while Mohamed Salah and Riyad Mahrez were hoping they could do better in the following games.
Here is a full round-up of how each Premier League player got on in the second round of Group Stage fixtures at AFCON 2021.
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Arsenal
Thomas Partey started and played the full 90 minutes of Ghana’s 1-1 draw with Gabon on Friday, grabbing an assist and a yellow card in the first half, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang once again missed out for Gabon following his positive Covid-19 test.
On Saturday, Mohamed Elneny managed 78 minutes of Egypt's 1-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau in Group D, picking up a 50th minute booking, while Nicolas Pepe got his first start and played the full 90 minutes in Ivory Coast’s 2-2 draw with Sierra Leone on Sunday, scoring the second goal for the Elephants.
Omar Rekik once again started as a substitute for Tunisia's Group F fixture with Mauritania on Sunday, but came on in the 81st minute during the 4-0 win.
Aston Villa
Bertrand Traore returned a positive Covid-19 test ahead of Burkina Faso’s game with Cape Verde on Thursday and was absent for the fixture, while it is feared his tournament could be over depending on whether his country progresses to the knockout stages.
On Saturday, Trezeguet started as a substitute for Egypt against Guinea-Bissau but came on in the 58th minute as his side recorded their first points of the tournament in a 1-0 victory.
Brentford
Frank Onyeka's Nigeria grabbed their second victory of the tournament with a 3-1 win against Sudan, although the midfielder was once again an unused substitute on Saturday.
Brighton
Ulrick Eneme Ella came on as a 67th minute substitute for Gabon on Friday, as his nation held Ghana to a 1-1 draw in Group C.
Yves Bissouma got his first start for Mali in their 1-1 draw with Gambia on Sunday in Group F, lasting the full 90 minutes to continue his side’s positive start.
Burnley
Maxwel Cornet had to settle for a place on the bench for Ivory Coast in their Group E match against Sierra Leone on Sunday and failed to feature in the 2-2 draw.
Chelsea
Edouard Mendy missed out on a second consecutive game for Senegal when they drew 0-0 with Guinea in Group B after testing positive for Covid-19, although it is hoped he will feature in their final group game on Tuesday.
Crystal Palace
Cheikhou Kouyate played the full 90 minutes for Senegal in their 0-0 draw with Guinea on Friday, picking up a 75th minute yellow card, while Jordan Ayew managed 91 minutes for Ghana during their 1-1 draw with Gabon, with both games coming in Group B.
Elsewhere, Wilfried Zaha was given his first start forIvory Coast in their 2-2 draw with Sierra Leone on Sunday, grabbing a 25th minute assist for Sebastien Haller and then being substituted in the 85th minute in their second Group E match.
Everton
Alex Iwobi had to settle for a place on the bench again for Nigeria's Group D tie against Sudan on Saturday, although he came on as a half-time substitute in the 3-1 victory.
Leicester City
Nampalys Mendy was an unused substitute on his return for Senegal in their 0-0 draw with Guinea on Friday after missing their first game through Covid-19, but Daniel Amartey played the full 90 minutes as Ghana drew 1-1with Gabon in their Group C clash on the same day.
Both Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho started for Nigeria in their 3-1 win over Sudan on Saturday, with Ndidi playing the full 90 minutes and Iheanacho managing 65 minutes, before being substituted for Ahmed Musa.
Liverpool
In Group B, Sadio Mane captained Senegal and played the full match in their 0-0 draw with Guinea, while Naby Keita was on the opposing team and also captained his side and played the full 90 minutes, although he picked up a 64th minute booking.
Mohamed Salah captained Egypt and played the whole match, but scored the winning goal in their 1-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau in Group D on Saturday.
Manchester City
Riyad Mahrez captained Algeria in their Group E shock defeat to Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, with his side losing 1-0 to continue their poor start to the tournament.
Manchester United
Eric Bailly started for Ivory Coast in their Group E game with Sierra Leone on Sunday, but was substituted in additional time at the end of the second half as the Elephants drew 2-2.
Hannibal Mejbri started on the bench for Tunisia's 4-0 defeat of Mauritania in Group F on Sunday, failing to feature as his side recorded their first points of the tournament.
Southampton
Moussa Djenepo started and played 69 minutes for Mali on Sunday as they drew 1-1 with Group F opponents Gambia, but picked up his second booking of the tournament in the 40th minute.
Watford
Ismaila Sarr was again absent through injury for Senegal’s Group B match against Guinea on Friday and continues to see a specialist for treatment ahead of a potential return to the side.
Both Adam Masina and Imran Louza started for Morocco in their second Group C clash against Comoros. Masina played the full 90 minutes again, while Louza managed 65 minutes before being substituted.
For a second consecutive game, William Troost-Ekong captained Nigeria and played the full 90 minutes as his side defeated Sudan 3-1 on Saturday.
West Ham
Said Benrahma was left on the bench for the second game running when Algeria played Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, but didn’t manage to feature this time around as his side lost 1-0.
Wolves
On Friday, Romain Saiss captained Morocco and played the full 90 minutes as his nation won their second consecutive game in Group C, defeating Comoros 2-0.
