South Africa To Face Mohamed Salah’s Egypt In AFCON, Nigeria Draw Tunisia | Soccer Information

South Africa will face Mohamed Salah-captained Egypt whereas Ademola Lookman-inspired Nigeria should sort out Tunisia after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations group stage draw was made in Rabat on Monday. Hosts Morocco face giantkillers Comoros within the opening match of the 24-team event on December 21 whereas title-holders Ivory Coast will come up towards five-time winners Cameroon. Sudan, a rustic ravaged by civil struggle, drew Algeria, and the conflict of Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo is about to be one other group-stage spotlight.   

Prolific scorer Salah has gained a number of honours with Liverpool, however victory within the AFCON has eluded him. He got here closest by ending a runner-up in 2017 and 2022.

Other than South Africa, the report seven-time champions will tackle two different international locations from the south of the continent, Angola and Zimbabwe, in Group B. 

Nigeria, runners-up to the Ivory Coast final 12 months, are blessed with excellent forwards, together with African Footballer of the Yr Lookman and his predecessor Victor Osimhen. 

Tunisia, making a report seventeenth consecutive AFCON look, and east African contenders Uganda and Tanzania full Group C.

Amad Diallo, scorer of a current hat-trick for Manchester United towards Southampton, is a possible starter for Ivory Coast, who may also meet Gabon and Mozambique in Group F.  

With house benefit and Europe-based stars like Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi, Morocco will likely be hoping to develop into the fourth AFCON hosts this century to carry the trophy. 

Within the earlier 13 editions from 2000, solely Tunisia in 2004, Egypt two years later and the Ivory Coast in 2024 have triumphed at house.  

And all three triumphs had been hard-earned with Tunisia edging Morocco 2-1, Egypt pipping the Ivory Coast in a penalty shootout and the Ivorians coming from behind to beat Nigeria 2-1 final 12 months.

Ivory Coast are the one nation to have been topped champions twice up to now eight editions of a contest first staged in 1957 and gained by Egypt in Khartoum.

The opposite champions had been Egypt, for a report seventh time in 2010, Zambia, Nigeria, Cameroon, Algeria and Senegal.

CAF president Patrick Motsepe from South Africa informed reporters he believes the primary AFCON to span two years may also be probably the most profitable.

“I’m extraordinarily excited in regards to the AFCON in Morocco — it’ll be probably the most profitable but. Ivory Coast raised the bar final 12 months and now we should attain even larger heights.

Initially slated for mid-2025, the event needed to be delayed as a result of to keep away from clashing with the maiden version of the revamped FIFA Membership World Cup in the US.

“The brand new dates is not going to have an effect on the event. Africa boasts many exceptionally gifted footballers and all of them will likely be in Morocco,” added Motsepe.

Internet hosting the AFCON is seen as a vital a part of the Moroccan build-up towards the 2030 World Cup, which the dominion will co-host with Spain and Portugal.

To mark the one hundredth anniversary of the primary World Cup in 1930 in Uruguay, that nation, Argentina and Paraguay will host one match every earlier than the event strikes to Europe and Africa.      

Draw

Group A

Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros 

Group B

Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe

Group C

Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania

Group D

Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin, Botswana

Group E

Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan

Group F

Ivory Coast (holders), Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique

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