CAN draws today

THE draws for next year’s Africa Nations Cup (CAN) are scheduled for today at the International Conference Centre Talatona in Luanda, Angola. Representatives from 16 African countries are in Luanda to know their opponents for Africa’s premier football show piece slated to run from January 10-31. After three rounds of qualification involving 53 nations, 15 nations in addition to hosts Angola managed to book their tickets for the tournament. With Algeria and Egypt already assured of qualification in Group C, it was down to Zambia and Rwanda to fight for the remaining qualification slot. Despite playing at home, Rwanda was outgunned by the Chipolopolo who forced out a goalless draw. Amavubi needed to win by a two-goal margin to qualify.The main seeding yardstick at the draws is the team’s performance at the last three Nations’ Cup finals, with the most recent edition at Ghana 2008 earning more points. The 16 finalists will be divided into four groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group will qualify to compete in the knock-out stages, winners will qualify to play in the quarters-finals, then the semi-finals, before the final. Egypt won the last competition to record a sixth CAN title (1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006 and 2008). The 15 teams set for the draws include Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Togo, Tunisia, Zambia and Angola. The 32-fixture tournament will be played at four venues; Luanda, Benguela, Cabinda and Lubango. Ends

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CAN draws today