2023 AFCON Draw: Nigeria to face hosts Cote d’Ivoire

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been drawn against hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea in Group A of the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), slated for January next year in Cote d’Ivoire.

Supreme News reports that the draw was held at the Parc des Expositions in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, on Thursday night.

Two-time African Footballer of the Year, and former Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker, Didier Drogba, and former Nigerian international, John Mikel Obi, also drew from the pots, which saw their two nations pitted together.

The hosts, Ivory Coast, winners in 1992 and 2015, will open the tournament on January 13 against Guinea-Bissau.

In other draw highlights, defending champions Senegal were pitted against Cameroon, while record winners Egypt will renew hostilities with Ghana.

Senegal, who triumphed earlier this year, were drawn in Group C against Cameroon, Guinea, and AFCON debutants Gambia in what looks like a competitive pool.

Ironically, Senegal met Cameroon in a friendly in France on Monday as part of their build-up to defend the trophy on Ivorian soil.

Egypt, hunting a record-extending eighth continental crown, will face Ghana in Group B in a repeat of the 2010 final, which the Pharaohs won late on. Cape Verde and Mozambique complete the group.

Algeria, Tunisia, Mali, and South Africa add further star quality to Group E in another exciting pool.

Elsewhere, AFCON semi-finalists Morocco should navigate a comfortable Group F containing DR Congo, Zambia and Tanzania.

Matches will take place at six venues across the country, including newly constructed stadiums in Abidjan, Korhogo and San Pedro.

The 16-team group stage was plotted in Abidjan, with Cote d’Ivoire hosting the continent’s showpiece event from January 13 to February 11, 2023.

Groups:

Group A: Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau

Group B: Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde Islands, and Mozambique

Group C: Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea, and Gambia

Group D: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Angola

Group E: Tunisia, Mali, South Africa, Namibia

Group F: Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia, Tanzania

NAN reports that Nigeria, the three-time Africa Cup of Nations winners, won their most recent title in 2013.

In April 1994, the Nigerian national football team was ranked 5th in the FIFA rankings, the highest FIFA ranking position ever achieved by an African football team.