Nigeria have been drawn with Egypt, Tanzania and Chad in Group G of
the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series after a draw held in
Cairo on Wednesday.
The Super Eagles, three-time winners, will challenge the Pharaohs,
record seven-time winners, for a ticket to play at Gabon 2017.
The winners of each of the 13 groups will pick automatic qualifying
tickets while the two best second-placed teams would join the train to
Gabon.
Notwithstanding their illustrious credentials, both Nigeria and Egypt
failed to qualify for the 2015 tournament held in Equatorial Guinea,
with Egypt's last showing being at Angola 2010 where they won their
record-extending seventh title.
Both countries have had mixed fortunes internationally over the
years. Nigeria have played at five World Cups and reached the round of
16 in Brazil last year.
On the contrary, Egypt have not qualified for the World Cup since
playing at Italia '90 even though they have enjoyed more success than
any other team in the continental showpiece, winning three titles
successively between 2006 and 2010.
The other teams in the group, Tanzania and Chad, will be expected to make up the numbers.
In other pairings, Tunisia, Togo, Liberia and Djibouti are in Group A
while DR Congo, Angola, Central African Republic and Madagascar make up
Group B.
In Group C are Mali, Equatorial Guinea, Benin and South Sudan while
Group D comprises of Burkina Faso, Uganda, Botswana and Comoros
Islands.
2012 champions Zambia, Congo, Kenya and Guinea Bissau make up Group E
while Cape Verde, Morocco, Libya and Sao Tome make up Group F.
2015 finalists Ghana, Mozambique, Rwanda and Mauritius are in Group H
as defending champions Cote d'Ivoire, Sudan, Sierra Leone and hosts
Gabon will slug it out in Group I.
Points in Gabon's matches will not count towards the final tally.
Group J has Algeria, Ethiopia, Lesotho and Seychelles while Group K
will see Senegal, Niger, Namibia and Burundi compete for a place in the
tournament.
Guinea, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Swaziland are in Group I while giants
Cameroon, South Africa, Gambia and Mauritania make up Group J.
The qualifying rounds will commence in June 2015.
DAT
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