Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles on Tuesday secured a dicey draw, while hosts Rwanda were handed a tricky one for next year’s African Nations Championship (CHAN) tagged “Rwanda 2016”.
The competition, which is now in its fourth edition, is for footballers playing in the domestic leagues on the African continent.
After the draw held on Sunday in the Rwandan capital city of Kigali, Nigeria will have to contend with 2011 champions Tunisia, as well as neighbour and old foe, Niger Republic.
Guinea, who stopped Nigeria from making it to the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), make up their group, Group C.
The host nation were drawn in Group A alongside Gabon, Morocco and Cote D’Ivoire, while the winners of the maiden edition in 2009, DR Congo, are in Group B.
DR Congo have 2011 losing finalists Angola, Cameroon and Ethiopia to contend with.
Zimbabwe, one of two teams to have competed at every edition of the CHAN since its birth in 2009, are in Group D with Mali, Uganda and Zambia.
Secretary-General of Confederation of African Football (CAF), Hicham El-Amrani, conducted the draw with Rwanda captain Haruna Niyonzima and head coach of Rwanda women’s national team, Marie-Grace Umuntu.
Rwanda President Paul Kagame chaired the function, while CAF Second Vice-President Almamy Camara led the delegation from the continent’s soccer governing body.
Camara is also president of the Organising Committee of the competition, which will take place from Jan. 16 to Feb. 7 in Rwanda.
Group A will be based at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Group B in Butare, Group C at the Nyamirambo Stadium, also in Kigali, with Gisenyi hosting Group D.
The full draw
A – Rwanda, Gabon, Morocco, Cote D’Ivoire
B – DR Congo, Angola. Cameroon, Ethiopia
C – Tunisia, Nigeria Niger, Guinea
D – Zimbabwe, Mali, Uganda, Zambia.
