The draw for the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) took place on Thursday night at the Parc Des Expositions in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. Nigeria’s Super Eagles found themselves in Group A alongside the host nation, Cote d’Ivoire, as well as Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea.
The event featured the participation of two legendary football figures: Didier Drogba, a former Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker, and John Mikel Obi, a former Nigerian international. These two stars played a pivotal role in drawing the nations for the tournament.
The hosts, Ivory Coast, who previously clinched the AFCON title in 1992 and 2015, are set to open the tournament on January 13, 2023, against Guinea-Bissau.
In other noteworthy draws, defending champions Senegal have been placed in Group C, alongside Cameroon, Guinea, and AFCON debutants Gambia. Senegal is set to face Cameroon in a friendly match in France as part of their preparations to defend their title on Ivorian soil.
Egypt, aiming for an eighth continental crown, will compete against Ghana in Group B, rekindling memories of their dramatic 2010 final encounter, which the Pharaohs won late on. Cape Verde and Mozambique round out the group.
Group E promises high-level competition, with Algeria, Tunisia, Mali, and South Africa battling for supremacy. Meanwhile, Group F sees AFCON semi-finalists Morocco in a more comfortable position, joined by DR Congo, Zambia, and Tanzania.
The matches are scheduled to be held at six venues across the country, including recently constructed stadiums in Abidjan, Korhogo, and San Pedro. Cote d’Ivoire will host the continent’s premier football event from January 13 to February 11, 2023.
Here are the 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
Nigeria, a three-time Africa Cup of Nations winner, last secured the title in 2013. Notably, in April 1994, the Nigerian national football team achieved the highest FIFA ranking position ever held by an African football team, reaching the 5th position in the FIFA rankings.
