Nigeria face Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, and Sao Tome and Principe, but Kalou thinks Group A will be an easy ride for The Super Eagles
By Kehinde Okeowo
Former Chelsea striker, Salomon Kalou has tipped Nigeria to qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), after The Super Eagles were drawn into a relatively easy group.
The Ivorian star who also predicted that Nigeria would top Group A, made the assertion while analysing the 2023 AFCON qualifier draw on Super Sports.
Kalou was confident that the Super Eagles will qualify from the group with flying colours, he also added that the race for the second qualifying slot in the group is open, as any of the three teams can qualify.
“I think it’s a good group [for the Super Eagles]. I think Nigeria is a team that will always qualify.
“They will be the favourites of the group while the second place is open for the other three teams,” Kalou said.
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The draw for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series was conducted on Tuesday evening in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Nigeria were drawn into Group A alongside Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, and Sao Tome and Principe.
Current holders, The Teranga Lions of Senegal were placed in Group L with Benin Republic, Mozambique, and Rwanda.
The Ivorians are in group H alongside Zambia, Comoros, and Lesotho even though they are already assured of participating in the competition as hosts.
The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon are in Group C and will face the Harambee Stars of Kenya, Namibia, and Burundi.
Ghana fall into a group largely within their reach, Group E and the will play against Madagascar, Angola, and the Central African Republic
South Africa in Group K are in a much tougher group as they will face neighbours, Zimbabwean, Liberia, and Morocco.
The last AFCON finalists, Egypt, will contest alongside Guinea, Malawi, and Ethiopia in Group D.
Algeria, after the disappointment of not reaching the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, will play against Tanzania, Uganda, and Niger in Group F.
Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Togo, and eSwatini will jostle for places in Group B while Group G consists of Mali, Congo, The Gambia, and South Sudan
DR Congo in Group I will attempt to qualify ahead of Gabon, Mauritania, and Sudan, while Group J will witness hostilities between Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, and Botswana.
All in all, there are 12 groups with the top two teams of each group automatically qualifying for the tournament.
The qualifiers for the 2023 AFCON will kick-off across the continent in June 2022.
See the full list of groups below:
Group A
🇳🇬 Nigeria
🇸🇱 Sierra Leone
🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau
🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe / 🇲🇺 Mauritius
Group B
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso
🇨🇻 Cape Verde
🇹🇬 Togo
🇸🇿 eSwatini
Group C
🇨🇲 Cameroon
🇰🇪 Kenya
🇳🇦 Namibia
🇧🇮 Burundi
Group D
🇪🇬 Egypt
🇬🇶 Guinea
🇲🇼 Malawi
🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Group E
🇬🇭 Ghana
🇲🇬 Madagascar
🇦🇴 Angola
🇨🇫 Cthe entral African Republic
Group F
🇩🇿 Algeria
🇺🇬 Uganda
🇳🇪 Niger
🇹🇿 Tanzania
Group G
🇲🇱 Mali
🇨🇬 Congo
🇬🇲 The Gambia
🇸🇸 South Sudan
Group H
🇨🇮 Ivory Coast (hosts)
🇿🇲 Zambia
🇰🇲 Comoros
🇱🇸 Lesotho
Group I
🇨🇩 DR Congo
🇬🇦 Gabon
🇲🇷 Mauritania
🇸🇩 Sudan
Group J
🇹🇳 Tunisia
🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea
🇱🇾 Libya
🇧🇼 Botswana
Group K
🇲🇦 Morocco
🇿🇦 South Africa
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
🇱🇷 Liberia
Group L
🇸🇳 Senegal
🇧🇯 Benin
🇲🇿 Mozambique
🇷🇼 Rwanda
