During the Africa Cup of Nations draw in Abidjan, the host nation, Ivory Coast, was placed in Group A alongside Nigeria. This group also includes Equatorial Guinea, a team on the rise, and Guinea-Bissau, who are making their fourth consecutive appearance in the tournament.

Other notable groupings include defending champions Senegal, who will compete with five-time winners Cameroon. Additionally, Africa’s first World Cup semi-finalists, Morocco, will face the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ivory Coast, aiming for their third Cup of Nations title, will kick off the tournament with a match against Guinea-Bissau in Abidjan on January 13. The Ivory Coast vs. Nigeria clash is expected to be one of the most closely watched fixtures in Group A, featuring two three-time champions.

Nigeria last claimed the Cup of Nations in 2013 in South Africa, and Ivory Coast succeeded them as champions two years later in Equatorial Guinea.

Morocco, placed in Group F, will compete against DR Congo, Zambia, and Tanzania. The Atlas Lions have won the premier African football competition only once, in 1976 in Ethiopia. Their best performance since then was finishing as runners-up in 2004 to hosts Tunisia.

Defending champions Senegal were drawn into Group C, where they will contend with five-time winners Cameroon, Guinea, and the Gambia.

South Africa finds itself in Group E and will compete against Tunisia, Mali, and Namibia. Meanwhile, Ghana has been drawn into Group B and will face Egypt, Cape Verde, and Mozambique.

Group D features Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Angola, completing the line-up for a tournament that will reach its pinnacle with the final on February 11.