Nigeria draw S’Africa, Ivory Coast in 2019 U23 AFCON

Nigeria have been drawn in group B alongside Ivory coast, Zambia and South Africa in the 2019 U23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The draw ceremony was held at Haramlek Palace in Alexandria, Egypt on Wednesday evening.

The tournament, which is the third edition, is expected to kick-off from November 8-22, in Cairo, capital of Egypt.

The U23 AFCON, which started in 2011 in Morocco, is the continent’s qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games.

Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt, the host nations, are the only teams to have competed in every of the tournament since its inception in 2011.

Egypt will take on Mali, Cameroon and Ghana for a ticket to Japan in group B. Cairo international and Al Salam stadia are expected to play host to all matches.

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

Nigeria are currently the defending champions.

The group fixture:

Group A: Egypt, Mali, Cameroon, Ghana
Group B: Nigeria, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Zambia