The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau in Group D in the forthcoming African Cup of Nations, held in Cameroon. AFCON champions Algeria will face former winners Ivory Coast in the group stage of the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon next year. They are drawn in Group E alongside Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, and Ivory Coast.
The tournament, which will feature 24 teams, will start from 9th January to 6th February. A host of dignitaries attended the draw, including Confederation of African Football (Caf) president Patrice Motsepe, Cameroon legend Roger Milla and icons such as Didier Drogba, El Hadji Diouf and former Chelsea and Barcelona star Samuel Eto’o.
No ex-Super Eagles player was in the ceremony. The other tournament debutants, Gambia, will play in Group F alongside Tunisia, Mali and Mauritania. Sadio Mane’s Senegal, who suffered were the runners-up of 2019 final to Algeria, will take on Zimbabwe, Guinea and Malawi in Group B.
Hosts Cameroon, seeking a sixth title, were put in Group A with Ethiopia, Cape Verde and Burkina Faso, who they will face in the opening match in Yaounde. It has been said that Yaounde plus newly-built or refurbished venues in Bafoussam, Douala, Garoua and Limbe will be used for the tournament.
The AFCON tournament was postponed twice due to wet weather concerns, and Covid-19 and even the draw, initially set for June, was delayed by the pandemic. Cameroon was selected to stage the 2019 tournament but fell behind with its preparation.
AFCON Draw:
- Group A: Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Cape Verde
- Group B: Senegal, Zimbabwe, Guinea, Malawi
- Group C: Morocco, Ghana, Comoros, Gabon
- Group D: Nigeria, Egypt, Sudan, Guinea-Bissau
- Group E: Algeria, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast
- Group F: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Gambia
