The hosts Gabon have been handed a favorable draw for the 2017 African Cup of Nations alongside Cameroon, Burkina Faso and the debutants Guinea-Bissau in Group A. Group B has been dubbed the group of death, comprising Algeria and Senegal, two of Africa’s strongest teams.
The build-up to the tournament, CAF’s flagship event, has been overshadowed by doubts over Gabon’s suitability to host the African Cup of Nations after the disputed Gabonese presidential elections.
In September Ali Bongo Ondimba, son of the dictator Omar Bongo, was sworn in as Gabon’s president for a second seven-year term, after winning re-election by a slim margin. Bongo called for political dialogue, but opposition candidate Jean Ping rejected the offer, accusing Bongo’s ruling party of vote-rigging.
In 2015 CAF had to switch the host country at the last minute as Morocco pulled out of staging the tournament due to the Ebola epidemic. Equatorial Guinea stepped in at short notice to ensure the tournament would go ahead. But CAF has dispelled any notions of such a scenario this time around.
In a colourful ceremony, the Gabonese capital Libreville hosted the draw, and as it was, the hosts landed a favorable draw, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s side to face the debutants Guinea-Bissau in the opening game of the 2017 African Cup of Nations on the 14th of January. Les Panthères will also meet Cameroon and Burkina Faso in group A.
Group B is the toughest, uniting the heavyweights Algeria, Tunisia and Senegal, and Zimbabwe. Elsewhere, the holders and favourites Ivory Coast were drawn in Group C and will face Togo, Morocco and DR Congo. Group D pits seven-time winners Egypt with the Black Stars of Ghana, Mali and Uganda.
2017 Africa Cup of Nations draw:
Group A: Gabon, Cameroon, Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso
Group B: Algeria, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Tunisia
Group C: Ivory Coast, Togo, Morocco, DR Congo
Group D: Ghana, Uganda, Egypt, Mali
Credit: insideworldfootball