NAN-S-14
AFCON
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Oct. 20, 2016 (NAN) Ghana will come up against familiar foes in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations following the group stage draws for the tournament.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the draws were conducted at the Stade de l’Amitie in Libreville, Gabon on Wednesday night.
The Black Stars are placed in Group D alongside Uganda and Egypt — two of their three opponents from their 2018 World Cup qualifying group — as well as fellow West Africans, Mali.
Group C sees Herve Renard’s Morocco placed in the same pool as his former team, Ivory Coast, as well as DR Congo and Togo.
NAN recalls that Renard took the Elephants to continental glory in 2015, his second Nations Cup triumph after guiding Zambia to the trophy in 2012.
He will next year have the chance to face the West Africans in his current role as the Atlas Lions’ head coach.
Also, Group B features two North African giants in Algeria and Tunisia, as well as Senegal and Zimbabwe, while the host nation Gabon are pooled in Group A with Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Guinea-Bissau.
The opening match on January 14 will see the Panthers face Guinea-Bissau in Libreville.
Here is the full list of the 2017 AFCON group stage draws.
Group A – Gabon, Burkina Faso Cameroon, Guinea-Bissau
Group B – Algeria, Tunisia, Senegal, Zimbabwe
Group C – Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Morocco, Togo
Group D – Ghana, Mali, Egypt, Uganda (NAN)
VO/PDE
======
(Edited by Peter Ejiofor)