Femi Solaja
For the first time since Mali 2002, Nigeria will have the host nation to contend with at the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 scheduled to hold next January in Cote d’Ivoire.
The Super Eagles were paired against hosts Cote d’Ivoire in Group A alongside Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.
Current African Footballer of the Year, Senegal’s Sadio Mane who was one of the football personalities invited to the Draw Ceremony in Abidjan, picked the ballot that pitted the two West African football nations to play in same Group A and interestingly, it will be the first meeting of the two countries since Nigeria eliminated the star-studded Ivorian side in the quarter finals of the tournament Super Eagles won in South Africa in 2013
Also, the two other nations in the group are no strangers to Nigeria after playing the Super Eagles in the qualifying tournaments to the last AFCON and World Cup qualifying matches. Guinea Bissau shocked Nigeria in Abuja last March in an AFCON qualifier.
Nigeria got paired with hosts Mali when they hosted the tournament in 2002. Super Eagles were similar paired with hosts Ghana (1978), Algeria (1990) and Senegal in 1992.
Super Eagles defeated hosts Senegal 2-1 in 1992 with goals by Samson Siasia and late Stephen Keshi in the opening match of that edition in Dakar. Late Teranga Lions’ star player, Jules Bocandes equalized Siasia’s goal before Keshi grabbed the winner to send the home fans into early retirement to bed.
The Eagles played the championship game in 1984, when Cote d’Ivoire similarly last hosted this tournament.
In the other groups, Egypt will take on Ghana, Cape Verde and Mozambique in Group B while defending Champions, Senegal lead the park in Group C with Cameroon, Guinea and Gambia.
In Group D, Algeria will play against Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Angola while Tunisia, Mali, South Africa and Namibia will tango for knockout slots in Group E. Morocco, Congo Democratic Republic, Zambia and Tanzania have all to play for in Group F.
The best two teams will automatically qualify into the next stage while four best losers will also progress.
The tournament will run from January 13th to 11th of February next year.
AFCON 2023 DRAW
GROUP A
Cote d’Ivoire
Nigeria
E’Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Group B
Egypt
Ghana
Cape Verde
Mozambique
GROUP C
Senegal
Cameroon
Guinea
Gambia
GROUP D
Algeria
Burkina Faso
Mauritania
Angola
GROUP E
Tunisia
Mali
South Africa
Namibia
GROUP F
Morocco
DR Congo
Zambia
Tanzania
