Nigeria could face team of the moment Cote d’Ivoire or Ghana in the first round of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. The challenge came to fore after the Confederation of African Football revealed the seeding for the draw of the event which holds in South Africa next year. CAF on Monday seeded host nation South Africa, defending champions Zambia as well as Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana.
The South Africans were seeded as hosts; the Zambians are defending champions while the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire and Black Stars of Ghana were seeded based on their results in the past three tournaments in 2008, 2010 and 2012. As a result of Nigeria not being seeded, Super Eagles could be pitted against any of the seeded teams when the draw is staged in Durban on October 24. The Eagles failed to qualify for the 2012 edition which the Ivorians finished up as runners-up to Zambia.
The teams in the same pot are separated from each other when the draw is held. Eagles are in Pot Two with Tunisia, Mali and Angola. The seeded teams are in Pot One. Nigeria can as well fall into the group with South Africa or Zambia. Nigeria qualified for the finals on Saturday after beating Liberia 6-1 (8-3 aggregate) in Calabar.
Cote d’Ivoire qualified for the 2013 event despite the abandonment of their second-leg tie with Senegal and no news yet of an official result from CAF. The Ivorians were 6-2 up on aggregate when Saturday’s game in Dakar was called off because of crowd violence. Followers of the game of football expect heavy penalty for the Senegalese which their federation members have acknowledged they may have to bear whichever way it comes.
In the third pot are Algeria, Burkina Faso, Morocco and Niger.
Cape Verde, who qualified for the first time in their history by pulling off a shock 3-2 aggregate victory over four-time champions Cameroon, are in the fourth pot with Togo, DR Congo and Ethiopia. The Ethiopians who are the 1962 champions have qualified for the first time since 1982.
The tournament takes place between January 19 and February 10, 2013.
Seedings
•Pot One: South Africa, Zambia, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire
•Pot Two: Mali, Tunisia, Angola, Nigeria
•Pot Three: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Niger
•Pot Four: Togo, Cape Verde, DR Congo, Ethiopia.
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