Again, Nigeria will miss out in Africa’s biggest football event, Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) – its 10th time since the championship was first held in 1957. However, the country has won the Cup thrice (1980, 1994 and 2013). This time, even as reigning champions, it failed to qualify.
The ‘Giant of Africa’ did not also qualify in 1972, 1974, 1986 and 2012. But it withdrew in 1962, 1965, 1970 and 1996. The last withdrawal, due to its political undertone, earned the country ban by the organisers, Confederation of African Football (CAF), in 1998.
The 2015 AFCON, which will hold from January 17 to February 8, is the 30th edition of the international football championship of Africa, also known as the Orange Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship considerations.
The tournament was initially scheduled to be hosted by Morocco, who previously hosted it in 1988, but the country declined to host the tournament at the scheduled dates because of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in West Africa.
Equatorial Guinea was later picked as host.
In qualification for the tournament were three preliminary rounds and a final group stage. The 21 best-ranked teams were given a bye to the group stage, while the next 26 teams began play in the second preliminary round, and four lowest ranked teams started at the first round.
The three preliminary rounds were a series of playoffs, with the winners advancing.
Fifty-one teams entered the tournament (excluding initial hosts Morocco). It was the competitive debut of South Sudan. Teams of Djibouti and Somalia declined to enter.
Morocco would have automatically qualified as host; however, after its refusal to host, it was expelled from the tournament by CAF. Equatorial Guinea was chosen as the new host, and despite having played in the qualifiers and been disqualified for fielding an ineligible player, it now qualifies for the tournament automatically.
Defending champions, Nigeria, failed to qualify after forcing South Africa to a 2-2 draw on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium, Uyo.
The Super Eagles placed third on the group’s table with eight points from six matches behind leaders, South Africa (12 points) and runners-up, Congo (10 points).
Sudan was at the rear of the table with three points.
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