2023 AFCON draws to hold October 12

Confederation of Africa Football has announced October 12 as the draw date for the group stages of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, Saturday PUNCH reports.

The date was approved by CAF Executive Committee at its Congress in Algiers, Algeria on Thursday and was made known on Friday.

“The EXCO announced that the Official draw of the Africa Cup of Nations Ivory Coast 2023 will be conducted on Thursday, 12 October 2023,” CAF’s statement on Friday read.

Holders Senegal, Algeria, Tunisia, South Africa, Morocco and Burkina Faso have joined hosts The Elephants among the teams to have qualified for the tournament which has now been confirmed to start in January 2024.

Nigeria leads Group A with nine points from four matches and will play Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe in their remaining two group fixtures next month to determine their qualification for the tournament.