The Super Eagles have come under a speculative forecast linking them with the possibility of getting Egypt, Cape Verde and Comoros as their group opponents at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Megasportsarena.com reports that this permutation was offered in a preview by the communications department of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), ahead of the draw that holds this Tuesday in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
The forecast adds that the Eagles will avoid the host nation, as well as Senegal, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, because they are all seeded for the competition slated for early next year.
Consequently, the preview adds that the three-time champions are in Pot 1, thereby facing the possibility of being drawn against seven-time winners Egypt, who are in Pot 2, as well as 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification foes, Cape Verde in Pot 3.
There is also the chance of Nigeria coming out against the gritty and gutsy Comoros team that recently achieved a first-ever qualification for the continental soccer showpiece and are placed in Pot 4 for the Tuesday’s draw.
Aside the first line of options awaiting the Eagles on Tuesday night in Yaoundé, permutations could also emerge from Ghana, who have four AFCON titles but have not won the trophy in 39 years.
The Black Stars, who famously beat Nigeria at Senegal ’92 and on home soil in 2008, are placed in Pot 2 alongside Egypt as well as 2015 champions Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso (who were 2013 losing finalists against the Eagles), 2002 hosts Mali and Guinea, who stopped Nigeria from qualifying for the 2012 edition.
The full array for Tuesday’s draw has Pot 1: Cameroon, Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Nigeria; Pot 2: Egypt, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea; Pot 3: Cape Verde, Gabon, Mauritania, Zimbabwe, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone; Pot 4: Malawi, Sudan, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, The Gambia.
NFF’s media unit added: “All teams in the same pot avoid one another but they could be drawn against any in the other pots, so no one can rule out the likelihood of the Super Eagles clashing with the Pharaohs, the Blue Sharks and surprise packets Coelacanths.
“Being grouped in Pot 1 together means the Eagles, who picked up the bronze medals at the last edition in Egypt two years ago, will avoid Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions (five-time champions), Senegal’s Lions of the Teranga (Africa’s number one-ranked team).
“(They will also avoid) Tunisia (2004 champions and Africa’s number two –ranked team), Cup holders Algeria (now ranked number three in Africa) and 1976 winners Morocco (now ranked fourth in Africa, a step above the Super Eagles).
“The draw ceremony formally kick-starts preparations for all teams concerned. However, the disruption caused by the global coronavirus pandemic means the AFCON 2021 is now to hold 9th January – 6th February 2022.
“(That will be even) with the qualifying series of the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals yet to be concluded before the AFCON. The knockout rounds for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 holds in March 2022.
“Most of the teams involved in Cameroon 2021 will be using the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers as preparatory sessions, with six tough games to negotiate between September and November, and only the last week of December and the first week of January open for any camping programme.”
