Stephen Dunmoye
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will know their group opponents for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday.
The final draw for the 34th edition of Africa’s biggest soccer competition will hold at the breath-taking, brand-new Parc Des Expositions.
The Super Eagles have been placed in Pot 2 and could face hosts Cote d’Ivoire, defending champions Senegal, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Tunisia in the group stage.
NEWSTODAYNG recalled that the West Africans were eliminated in the Round of 16 at the last edition in Cameroon.
Pot Allocation:
According to the FIFA official ranking issued on the 21st of September 2023, the 24 teams qualified to participate in the final tournament of the TotalEnergies AFCON, Côte d’Ivoire 2023 have been seeded into the following 4 levels:
Procedures of the draw:
The following 4 pots will be on stage:
Pot 4: Containing the 6 teams of level IV
Pot 3: Containing the 6 teams of level III
Pot 2: Containing the 6 teams of level II
Pot 1: Containing the 5 teams of level I + the host country’s ball in a distinct colour.
The host country’s ball will be the first to be drawn from Pot 1, and it will be placed in position A1.
Step 1:
Pot 4:The 6 less seeded teams of level IV will be in pot 4
⦁ The first ball drawn will go directly to Group A; in position A4.
⦁ The second ball drawn will go directly to Group B; in position B4
⦁ The third ball drawn will go directly to Group C; in position C4
⦁ The fourth ball drawn will go directly to Group D; in position D4
⦁ The fifth ball drawn will go directly to Group E; in position E4
⦁ The sixth ball drawn will go directly to Group F; in position F4
Step 2:
Pot 3:The 6 teams of level III will be in pot 3
⦁ The first ball drawn will go directly to group A; in position A3.
⦁ The second ball drawn will go directly to group B; in position B3
⦁ The third ball drawn will go directly to group C; in position C3
⦁ The fourth ball drawn will go directly to group D; in position D3
⦁ The fifth ball drawn will go directly to group E; in position E3
⦁ The sixth ball drawn will go directly to group F; in position F3
Step 3:
Pot 2:The 6 teams of level II will be in pot 2
⦁ The first ball drawn will go directly to group A; in position A2.
⦁ The second ball drawn will go directly to group B; in position B2
⦁ The third ball drawn will go directly to group C; in position C2
⦁ The fourth ball drawn will go directly to group D; in position D2
⦁ The fifth ball drawn will go directly to group E; in position E2
⦁ The sixth ball drawn will go directly to group F; in position F2
Step 4:
Pot 1:The Host team is already in position A1; the holder of the title and the other 4 teams of level I will be in pot 1
⦁ The first ball drawn will go directly to group B; in position B1.
⦁ The second ball drawn will go directly to group C; in position C1
⦁ The third ball drawn will go directly to group D; in position D1
⦁ The fourth ball drawn will go directly to group E; in position E1
⦁ The fifth ball drawn will go directly to group F; in position F1.
