AFCON 2021: Senegal Get ‘Easy’ Nations Cup Draw

Senegal, the highest-ranked side on the continent, have been handed a seemingly easy group at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations finals.

The Teranga Lions, who reached the final of the last edition of the African football showcase, will face Zimbabwe, Guinea and Malawi in Group B.

Hosts Cameroon will face Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Cape Verde in Group A of the tournament which will run from 9 January to 6 February in five cities of the central African nation.

Group C features Morocco, Ghana, Gabon and Comoros, while in Group D  it is Nigeria, Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau.

Defending champions Algeria are in Group E with Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast , while in Group F it is Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania and Gambia.

Comoros and The Gambia will be the only teams  making their debut at the Africa Cup of Nations finals, while while Sierra Leone return for the first time since 1996.

The first game of the tournament will be Cameroon – who are likely to have Bayern Munich star Jean-Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting in their team – against Burkina Faso on 9 January at Olembe Stadium.

The draw was held at Yaoundé Conference Centre and was conducted by African football legends and in attendance were the 24 team representatives and other dignitaries.

AFCON Groups:

Group A: Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Cape Verde.

Group B: Senegal, Zimbabwe, Guinea, Malawi.

Group C: Morocco, Ghana, Comoros, Gabon.

Group D: Nigeria, Egypt, Sudan, Guinea-Bissau.

Group E: Algeria, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast.

Group F: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania,Gambia.