Nigeria will face rivals Cameroon, Zambia and Algeria in the qualifying race for the 2018 FiFA World Cup in Russia.
The draw ceremony took place Friday evening at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.
After the Fifa President’s opening remark by a representative, tribute was paid to late Nigeria legend Stephen Keshi.
After the Fifa President’s opening remark by a representative, tribute was paid to late Nigeria legend Stephen Keshi.
The draw was then made with the help of Tunisia coach Henryk Kasperczak, former Senegal midfielder Aliou Cisse, Egypt star Mohammed Elneny and former Cameroon striker Alphonse Tchami.
Tunsia will slug it out with Libya, DR Congo and Guinea in Group A, while South Africa were drawn with Cape Verde, Burkina Faso and Senegal in Group D.
Nigeria were thrown in a veritable ‘Group of Death’ with the highest-ranked African team Algeria, Zambia and eternal rivals Cameroon - all former Afcon winners - in Group B.
Reigning African champions Cote d’Ivoire will hope to secure a World Cup place but must negotiate their way past Gabon, Mali and Morocco in Group C, while Ghana, Egypt, Congo and Uganda will complete in Group E.
The teams will play on a round-robin basis with all five group winners qualifying automatically for Russia 2018. Matches will take place between October 2016 and November 2017.
Nigeria face Algeria in their first qualifier later this year before facing the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and Zambia’s Chipolopolo.
DRAW IN FULL
Group A: Tunisia, Libya , Congo DR, Guinea
Group B: Zambia, Cameroon, Algeria, Nigeria
Group C: Gabon, Mali, Cote d’ivoire , Morocco
Group D: Senegal, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde
Group E: Ghana, Egypt, Congo, Uganda
Group B: Zambia, Cameroon, Algeria, Nigeria
Group C: Gabon, Mali, Cote d’ivoire , Morocco
Group D: Senegal, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde
Group E: Ghana, Egypt, Congo, Uganda
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