AFCON 2019 Full Groups Announced

By: Ibrahim El-Shawarby

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) held the long awaited African Cup of Nations 2019 draw on Friday in the Pyramids area, in an atmosphere full of love and appreciation for the African heritage.

The Ceremony was filled with festivities as Traditional/ Pharonic Egyptian and African Folklore groups performed in front of the live audience in an event that was attended by many important local authority figures including Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli, in addition to many legendary football figures like Samuel Eto, Didier Drogba and Mohamed Abou Treka.

Conducting the draw were 4 of the most iconic African Footballers to ever brace the field Moroccan legend Mostafa Hajji, Senegal Legend El-Hadji Deouf, Egyptian Legend Ahmed Hassan and last but not least Cote Dev'oir Legend Yaya Toure, who drew from four respective pots

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="517"] AFCON Pot Classification[/caption]

The Results were: 

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="650"] Full Draw, Photo by AFP[/caption]

Hosts Egypt should face no difficulty qualifying through the group stages after getting a favorable draw as the Pharaohs were drawn with DR Congo, Uganda and Zimbabwe in Group A of the expanded 24-team tournament, which kicks off on 21 June.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been drawn in what looks like an easy Group B as they land with Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi.

Emmanuel Amuneke’s Tanzania are in Group C with Kenya who are making a return to the tournament after 15 years, in addition to Algeria and Senegal.

Namibia are in Group D alongside South Africa, Ivory Coast, and Morocco, while Group E houses Angola, debutants Mauritania, Mali and Tunisia.

In Group F, five-time winners and holders Cameroon – now managed by Clarence Seedorf , will also be there to defend their title starting with games against Guinea Bissau, Benin – who are back to the tournament after nine years of absence and Ghana.

This version of the African Cup marks the first time that the Cup will be held with the participation of 24 teams. Egypt has already organized the Nations Cup four times before, 1959, 1974, 1986 and 2006.

In addition Egypt has the highest record of winning the Nations Cup with seven titles, 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010.