2024 AFCON Draw: Nigeria, South Africa could face Morocco in group stage

The Super Eagles of Nigeria and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana will likely face the Atlas Lions of Morocco in the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.

The draw for the tournament is set to take place on Thursday, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Nigeria, a three-time champion of the continental competition, is among the second seeds for the draw, while South Africa is placed among the third seeds.

On the other hand Morocco, the 2022 World Cup semi-finalist is among the six top seeds. The Gambia, which reached the 2021 AFCON quarterfinals, is in the fourth pot.

If these teams are drawn up together, it would make for a tough group, likely to be a ‘group of death.’

Meanwhile, both Nigeria and South Africa were hoping for higher seeding but found themselves in lower categories due to the inclusion of the host nation, Cote d’Ivoire, among the first seeds.

While the Super Eagles are sixth in the continental rankings, they are placed in the second-seed status alongside Cameroon, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

South Africa, initially ranked above DR Congo, was placed one spot below Nigeria in the seedings.

The draw for the 2024 AFCON could possibly lead to some exciting group stage matchups.

Morocco with its strong footballing history in the game, will be considered one of the favorites to win the tournament despite having only won the competition once in 33 editions.

The 2024 AFCON will take place from January 13 to February 11.