AFCON 2019: Easy Draw For Nigeria’s Super Eagles

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  • Tackle Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi In Group B
Super Eagles set for AFCON 2019

BY COBHAM NSA, ABUJA – It was indeed all smiles for Nigeria’s delegation at the draw ceremony for the 32nd Africa Cup of Nations finals as the Coach Gernot Rohr’s men came face to face with their opponents in what many soccer pundits are already describing as the easiest-looking group in the biennial championship

The Super Eagles are drawn to tackle Guinea, Madagascar and minnows, Burundi in Group B when hostilities kick-off at this year’s edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Egypt.

The draw ceremony took place behind the famous Giza Pyramids in Cairo the Egyptian capital held Friday night from 6pm GMT (7pm Nigeria time).

An event greeted with great fanfare, it showcased the Egyptians’ rich culture in a spectacular treat that left mouths agape, including the crème de la crème of world football.

In charge of the evening spectacle was one of Africa’s best in his playing days, Ghanaian hero, Anthony Baffoe, ably assisted by other African football greats, Ahmed Hassan of Egypt; Yaya Toure of Cote d’Ivoire; and El Hadji Diouf of Senegal.

The draws threw up Coach Gernot Rohr’s men as the luckiest being grouped to face debutants – Burundi and Madagascar and West African neighbours, Guinea, who are making their 12th appearance at the championship.

Behold The Groupings!

Hosts Egypt, which underperformed at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, are placed in an intriguing Group A fixtures alongside DR Congo, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Group D promises to be a block-buster affair, with Morocco drawn against Cote d’Ivoire, South Africa and Namibia.

For Coach Emmanuel Anuneke tutored Taifa Stars of Tanzania, they were landed in a veritable ‘Group of Death‘ pairing. The Stars will have to overcome tough customers, Senegal, Algeria and Kenya to go through in Group C.

Defending champions Cameroon have been handed a tricky pool in the draw, going up against Ghana, Benin Republic and Guinea-Bissau in Group F.

Group E pitches Srđan Vasiljević’s Angola side to trade tackles in a difficult proposition to qualify against Tunisia, Mali and Mauritania.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles begin their campaign against Burundi on June 22 in Alexandria before facing Guinea (June 26) and Madagascar (June 30) respectively at the same venue

The 2019 edition is considered the biggest Africa Cup of Nations finals in the competition’s history.

For the first time since its inception in Sudan 62 years ago, twenty-four (24) national teams will be featuring in the competition. At the maiden championship in Khartoum, only three (3) teams were on parade.

On the night, hosts Egypt that have also won the competition the highest number of times – (7) seven), Cameroon (five (5) -time winners and Cup holders), Nigeria (three (3) – time winners), 2004 champions Tunisia, Senegal and 1976 champions Morocco were the seeded countries in the draw.

The Pharaohs of Egypt also hold the impressive record as the team with the most appearances of 24 in the tournament, while Cote d’Ivoire is heading to their 23rd showpiece and Ghana’s Black Stars making their 22nd appearance at the continental soccer fiesta.

Tunisia is making their 19th appearance with Nigeria heading for her 18th outing after missing out of the last two (2) editions in 2015 and 2017.

The championship will hold between June 21 and July 19, 2019, in six venues. These are Cairo International Stadium; Borg El-Arab Stadium; Alexandria; Suez Stadium; Air Defence Stadium; Ismailia Stadium; and Al Salam Stadium.

Nigeria’s delegation at the draws ceremony included President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and 1st Vice President of CAF, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick, who is also the President of the AFCON organizing committee, and NFF Secretary General, Dr Mohammed Sanusi who arrived in Cairo on Wednesday.

Pinnick has been in the Egyptian capital since the beginning of the week, leading final inspection teams across the various stadia, and chairing the AFCON committee meeting on Wednesday, April 10, 2019.

Since its inception, only 14 of the 54 member-nations of CAF have won the AFCON trophy. The list includes: Egypt, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Cote d’Ivoire. Others are Algeria, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Africa, Tunisia, Morocco, Congo-Brazzaville and Zambia.

Six other countries that have reached the final without ever winning it are: Mali, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Guinea, Libya and Senegal. – With agency reports

All groups’ pairings

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