Nigeria draws South Africa, Mali in Nations Cup Championship

Nigeria’s Super Eagles were on Wednesday drawn in Group A alongside hosts South Africa, Mali and Mozambique for the 2014 African Nations Championship.

The draw was held at the headquarters of the Confederation of African Football in Cairo, Egypt and conducted by CAF’s Secretary-General Mr. Hicham El-Amrani.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the competition which is the third edition will hold from Jan. 11 to Feb. 1.

The event, which is exclusively for players based on the African continent, will be held in three host cities of Cape Town, Mangaung and Polokwane.

The Super Eagles will be making their first appearance at the 16-team continental championship after failing to make it to the 2009 and 2011 editions.

In the draw for other groups, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Burkina Faso and Morocco were drawn in Group B, while Group C has 2009 runners-up Ghana with Libya, Ethiopia and Congo.

In Group D, DR Congo will also battle it out with Gabon, Burundi and Mauritania in the first round matches.

NAN reports that there will be 32 matches played on 16 matchdays with Cape Town hosting two quarter-final games and the other two in Mangaung and Polokwane.

The semi finals will both take place in Mangaung, while Cape Town will host the final and third-place matches.

Tunisia beat Angola 3-0 to win the 2011 edition in Sudan, while DR Congo beat Ghana 2-0 to win the inaugural edition in Cote D’Ivoire.

Source :#Punch