Nigeria joined hosts Ivory Coast in Group A during the Africa Cup of Nations draw on Thursday in Abidjan.

Fast-improving The final two teams in the mini-league are Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, who have qualified for four consecutive editions.

Other heavyweight matches pitted reigning champions Senegal against five-time champions Cameroon, while Morocco and the Democratic Republic of Congo squared off as Africa's first World Cup semifinalists.

On January 13 in Abidjan, the tournament's economic center, Ivory Coast will play Guinea-Bissau in the opening match in search of a third Cup of Nations victory.


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Among the six Group A games, the Ivorian matchup with three-time champions Nigeria will garner the most attention.

The Ivory Coast won the Cup of Nations two years after Nigeria, last named champions in 2013 in South Africa.

Group F included Tanzania, Zambia, DR Congo, and Morocco.

The only time the Atlas Lions have triumphed in the top-tier African football championship was in 1976 in Ethiopia. Their best result since then was coming in second place to the 2004 hosts Tunisia.


The reigning champs With five-time champions Cameroon, Guinea, and the Gambia, Senegal is in Group C.

Ghana will compete against Egypt, Cape Verde, and Mozambique in Group B, while South Africa will compete against Tunisia, Mali, and Namibia in Group E.

The remaining teams are in Group D, which includes Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Angola. The competition will culminate on February 11 with the final.

Draw

Group A

Ivory Coast (hosts), Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau

Group B

Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde, Mozambique

Group C

Senegal (holders), Cameroon, Guinea, Gambia

Group D

Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Angola

Group E

Tunisia, Mali, South Africa, Namibia

Group F

Morocco, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Tanzania

Notes

- Group winners and runners-up and the four highest-ranked third-placed teams qualify for the knockout stage

The tournament kicks off on January 13 and ends on February 11, with matches at six stadiums in five cities