Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s campaign to win a fourth African Cup of Nations (AFCON) will see the Super Eagles face Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea in Group A of the 2023 tournament scheduled for early next year.
The draw was held at the Parc Des Expositions in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday. The 2023 AFCON tournament will be taking place in the country from January 13 to February 11, 2024.
Nigeria were placed in Pot 2 ahead of the draw event attended by representatives of the participating teams, including the continent’s football legends like Mikel Obi, Taribo West, and Yaya Toure.
Nigeria last faced Cote d’Ivoire at the tournament in 2013 as the Nigerian side ran out 2-1 victors in the quarter-finals and en route to lifting the continental trophy.
The Super Eagles had lost to Guinea-Bissau in the qualification race for the competition but topped the group standing. They had also faced them in the last edition of the AFCON held in Cameroon last year. Nigeria defeated them 0-2.
Speaking on the draw, former Super Eagles captain Mikel John Obi said the Super Eagles are in a tough group but have what it takes to navigate their way out of the tricky group they find themselves.
“We are in a tough group but we are always favourites,” he said.
Senegal are the defending champions of the competition following their defeat of Egypt in Cameroon last year. That was their first title since the tournament began in 1957.
2023 Africa Cup of Nations Groups
Group A
Ivory Coast (Host), 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 earlier billed for this year but moved because of the 2022 World Cup which was held last December and weather disruptions.
