Africa U-23 Cup of Nations Draw Slated for Next Month

The draw for this year’s Africa U-23 Cup of Nations has been slated for Monday, 14 September by the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

The draw, which comes up in five weeks’ time, is billed for the Caf headquarters in Cairo Egypt, with both group winners and runners-up eligible for a place in the semi-final of this year’s edition.

The tournament slated for Senegal between 28 November and 12 December will produce Africa’s three flag-bearers at the Men’s Football Tournament of the 2016 Olympics Games in Rio de Janeiro, with the fourth team set to feature in a play-off tie against an opponent from Asia.

Dream Team VI Have Already Secured their Ticket for the 11th All-Africa  Games. Image: LMC.
Dream Team VI Have Already Secured their Ticket for the 11th All-Africa Games. Image: LMC.

Africa U-23 Cup of Nations 2015 will be staged in the Senegalese cities of Dakar and M’Bour.

Nigeria’s U-23 National team is among the eight sides to be divided into two groups at the draw ceremony, which will also feature hosts Senegal, Algeria, Egypt, South Africa, as well as debutantes Tunisia, Mali and Zambia.

Gabon won the maiden edition of the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations after a 2-1 win over 2013 hosts Morocco.

Caf has also confirmed that the draw for the 4th edition of the African Nations Championship, scheduled for Rwanda between 16 January and 7 February, 2016, holds in Kigali on 18 November.

Nigeria will face Burkina Faso in a qualifying tie slated for October this year.