2023 Africa Cup of Nations Groups, Senegal drawn in group of death

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Groups are now known after the draw was held in Ivory Coast on Thursday 12th October 2023.

Holders Senegal were drawn in Group C of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, alongside former champions Cameroon and neighbours The Gambia and Guinea.

The draw, which took place in Abidjan on Thursday, was described as a “group of death” by Senegal forward Sadio Mane, who was one of the African football legends drawing the teams.

“It’s a really difficult group,” Mane said. “Cameroon is going to be really tough but we will give our best to go through in the first round.”

Senegal beat Egypt on penalties to win their first Afcon title in 2022, and will be looking to retain their crown in Ivory Coast next year.

From the look of things, the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Groups are all tough groups and it is not going to be easy for any team.

Morocco drawn in Group F

World Cup semi-finalists Morocco were drawn in Group F, alongside DR Congo, Zambia and Tanzania.

Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, who was selected in the 2021 Afcon Team of the Tournament, said that his team will be looking to do their best in the tournament.

“We will try to do our best during this Afcon, similar to what we did in the World Cup,” Hakimi said. “We have a good team, a good group and we will do our best to win.”

Hosts Ivory Coast drawn with Nigeria

Hosts Ivory Coast were drawn in Group A, alongside Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.

The Elephants will be hoping to win their third Afcon title, after winning in 1992 and 2015.

Other draw highlights

In other draw highlights, neighbours South Africa and Namibia were drawn alongside Tunisia and Mali in Group E, which looks the most competitive of the tournament.

Mozambique, whose absence from the finals since 2010 is the longest of any team involved this time, will play in Group B alongside Mohamed Salah’s Egypt, who missed out on an eighth title on penalties in the 2021 final to Senegal. Ghana and Cape Verde complete the group.

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will be held in Ivory Coast from 13 January until 11 February.