2012 Africa Cup of Nations Draw

Afcon favourites?...
Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba

Africa Cup of Nations co-hosts Equatorial Guinea and Gabon were both given tough tasks in Saturday’s draw for next year’s finals. Equatorial Guinea, who will be making their first ever appearance at the showpiece of African football, were seeded into Group A which will play its matches in Bata.

Also in the group are Libya – who will contest the opening match against Equatorial Guinea on January 21 – Senegal and Zambia.

Co-hosts Gabon, who will play their Group C games in Libreville, were drawn against Niger, who are making their first appearance at the finals, as well as North African rivals Tunisia and Morocco.

Favourites Ivory Coast were drawn into Group B. It will be played in the capital of Equatorial Guinea, Malabo. There the Elephants will face Sudan, as well as Burkina Faso and Angola.

The second group to be played in Gabon – Group D – will be played in Franceville. It sees Ghana as the top seed and the Black Stars will be joined by Guinea, Mali and Africa Cup of Nations debutants Botswana.

2012 Africa Cup of Nations draw

Group A: Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Senegal, Zambia
Group B: Ivory Coast, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Angola
Group C: Gabon, Niger, Morocco, Tunisia
Group D: Ghana, Botswana, Mali, Guinea