October 13 – Reigning continental champions Senegal have been drawn with powerhouse Cameroon at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals with hosts Ivory Coast facing Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau in Group A.
The Ivorians will kick off Africa’s flagship tournament against Guinea Bissau before facing the Super Eagles as well as Equatorial Guinea. In Group B, record title holders Egypt will have to contend with Ghana, Cape Verde Islands and Mozambique, but it’s Group C that will provide one of the standout first-round fixtures with West African giants Cameroon and Senegal paired together.
Morocco, who became the first African country to reach the last four of the World Cup in December, were drawn in Group F against the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Zambia. They last won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1976, but will host the 2025 edition of the tournament.
The 2024 tournament had been due to be played last summer, but concerns over the climate in Ivory Coast made the Confederation of African Football (CAF) shift the tournament, the third time that the competition will host 24 teams. Senegal won the tournament for the first time in 2022 in Cameroon in a finals that were overshadowed by the tragic loss of life at one of the host’s matches.
Draw:
Group A: Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau
Group B: Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde Islands, 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
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