The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been drawn into Group A alongside the host nation, Cote d’Ivoire, for the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
This significant draw took place at the Parc Des Expositions in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, on a memorable Thursday.
The Super Eagles will share their group with Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea, adding an intriguing dynamic to the competition. Nigeria, represented in Pot 2, participated in the draw ceremony, which also saw the presence of football legends from the continent, such as Mikel Obi, Taribo West, and Yaya Toure, adding a touch of grandeur to the event.
Notably, Nigeria had previously faced Guinea-Bissau in the qualification race for the competition, and despite losing to them, the Super Eagles triumphed by topping the group standings. In the last edition of AFCON held in Cameroon just the previous year, Nigeria had once again crossed paths with Guinea-Bissau, defeating them with a convincing 2-0 score.
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The host nation, Cote d’Ivoire, has a history with the three-time African champions. In their previous encounter back in 2013 in South Africa, Nigeria emerged as victors with a 2-1 scoreline during the quarter-finals, ultimately paving the way for their continental triumph.
It’s important to note that Senegal currently holds the title of defending champions following their triumph over Egypt in the last edition held in Cameroon. This victory marked Senegal’s first AFCON title since the inception of the tournament, adding to the intrigue and anticipation of the 2023 competition.
Group A
Ivory Coast (hosts), Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau
Group B
Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde, Mozambique
Group C
Senegal (holders), Cameroon, Guinea, Gambia
Group D
Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Angola
Group E
Tunisia, Mali, South Africa, Namibia
Group F
Morocco, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Tanzania
All group winners and runners-up and the four highest-ranked third-placed teams qualify for the knockout stage.
Twenty-four teams will be taking part in the delayed competition billed for January 13 and February 11, 2024. The tournament was supposed to hold this year but moved following the 2022 World Cup which was held in December.