The Chipolopolo of Zambia celebrating their victory in 2012
The super Eagles of Nigeria have been drawn in group C of the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa along side the defending champions Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia.
In the draw which was conducted Wednesday night in Johannesburg, South Africa, debutants Cape Verde, who upset Cameroon to make their first finals, will play host South Africa in the opening match while Morocco, due to host the tournament in 2015, and Angola Complete Group A.
Ghana, who last won the trophy in 1982, face DR Congo, Niger Rep. and Mali in group B, while Ivory Coast, Togo, Tunisia, and Algeria make up the pool in group D.
The tournament, which will be held between 19 January and 10 February, is set for some intriguing clashes, not least in group C where Zambia will meet one of the traditional heavyweights of African Football in Nigeria.
Nigeria will definitely have a point to prove having missed the 2012 edition in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Nigeria also were withdrawn from the 1996 edition staged in South Africa by the then Military Head of State Late Gen. Sani Abacha for political reasons.
Under Coach Stephen Keshi, who took over in October 2011 following the sacking of Samson Siasia, the Super Eagles are unbeaten in 2012.
Keshi since he took over from Siasia, have been cooking a new team that is gradually settling down nicely. He has at his disposal an avallenge of strikers to choose from with most of them painting Europe with goals, but his headache will be how to stable the ship at the back were the Eagles have been very vulnerable.
The Grouping in full:
Group A: South African, Cape Verde, Morocco and Angola
Group B: Ghana, DR Congo, Niger Rep. and Mali
Group C: Zambia, Nigeria, BurkinaFaso, and Ethiopia
Group D: Ivory Coast, Togo, Tunisia and Algeria.
