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NIGERIA, EGYPT SEEDED FOR U-23 AFCON DRAW TODAY

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BY AYOMIDE SOLAJA.

Host Egypt and cup holders have been separated as the draw for the U23 Africa Cup of Nations holds today in Alexandria in Egypt.

This means that Egypt, as hosts, will head Group A while Nigeria will head Group B. The two will not meet until the knockout stage.

Both Nigeria and Egypt, along with South Africa are the teams that have never mixed the competition, which enters its third edition this year.

The competition, which began in Morocco in 2011, is the qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games. 

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Apart from the trio of Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa, the other five in tonight’s draw are Zambia, Ghana, Cote d’ivoire, Cameroon and Mali.

Based on the ranking of the teams from the previous editions, South Africa and Mali are in Pot 1 whilst Zambia, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon find themselves in Pot 2.

Cairo will host all games with matches at the Cairo International Stadium and Al Salam Stadium.

The top three finishers at the final tournament will qualify to represent Africa at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The draw is taking place in at the Haramlek Palace, inside the historical Montaza Complex, Alexandria will begin at 5:00pm GMT.

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To attend the draw are CAF Executive Committee member Ahmed Yahya, Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports, Ashraf Sobhy, Members of the Nomalisation Committee of the Egyptian Football Association and representatives of the qualified teams.

Egypt and Al Ahly legend Emad Meteab will assist CAF Director of Competitions, Samson Adamu to conduct the draw the will pit the eight teams into four groups of four teams each.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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