35th AFCON Draw: Super Eagles in Pot A, Will Avoid Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, and Ivory Coast
The draw for the 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will take place at the Mohamed V National Theatre in Rabat, Morocco, on Monday evening.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles, who have won the tournament three times, have been placed in Pot 1, along with Egypt, who have won the tournament seven times, Cote d’Ivoire (three-time champions and current holders), Algeria (two-time winners), hosts Morocco (who won in 1976), and Senegal, the 2021 champions.
Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Éric Sékou Chelle, Team Administrator Dayo Enebi Achor, and the Chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa, will attend the event in Morocco’s administrative capital.
The final tournament will take place from 21st December to 18th January, marking the first time the competition will start in one year and end in the next. This will also be the first time Morocco hosts the tournament since 1988, when they last hosted the event and Cameroon won. Although Morocco was originally set to host the 2015 AFCON, they withdrew at the last minute due to fears over the Ebola outbreak.
Since then, Morocco has hosted several major football events, including the 2018 African Nations Championship (which they won), the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (where they were runners-up), and the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup. The country will also co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles hold the record for the most medals in the 68-year-old tournament, with 16 medals from 20 previous AFCON appearances.
