The Super Eagles have been placed alongside other top seeded teams in Africa, in Pot 1 for the 2019 African Cup of Nations draw ceremony scheduled for Cairo, Egypt on Friday, April 12, 2019.
The six teams, who are considered the powerhouses of Africa, were selected based on their most recent FIFA World ranking. They include:
- Egypt (hosts),
- Cameroon (champions),
- Senegal,
- Tunisia,
- Morocco
- Nigeria.
Team Nigeria face a potential tough draw and may likely get to face perennial rivals, Ghana and Ivory Coast, who are in Pot 2.
Other teams selected in Pot 2 are Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Guinea and Algeria.
South Africa, Uganda, Benin, Mauritania, Madagascar and Kenya all make up Pot 3.
Pot 4 consists of Tanzania, who are managed by Nigerian coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Guinea Bissau, Angola and Burundi.
It would be a most interesting fixture if the Super Eagles are drawn into the same group as Amuneke’s Taifa Stars, as the gaffer has said that his team is prepared for whatever draws they get.
“I am a professional, and it does not matter even if I am playing against my mother or my late father; I want to win.
“And we cannot be afraid of anybody; otherwise we should not be among the 24 teams at the tournament. But we will continue to work hard, to improve, to learn from our mistakes and try to do better.”
— Emmanuel Amuneke
The draw ceremonyis scheduled to kickoff at 7pm GMT+1 at Giza, near Cairo.
Former African internationals such as Yaya Toure, Mark Fish, El Hadji Diouf, Moustafa Hadji, and a few others are expected to grace the event to witness the draws.
Featured image source: Vanguard News
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