Ghana has not been seeded
ahead of Friday’s draw for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Black Stars, instead,
have dropped to Pot 2, complicating the country’s path to a first AFCON success
since 1982.
Host nation Egypt,
defending champions Cameroon, have been seeded while Senegal, Tunisia, Nigeria
and Morocco join the list of six seeded countries for the 24-team tournament.
The draw procedure was
approved at the CAF Executive Committee Meeting on Thursday in Cairo, having
been proposed by the Organising Committee of the Total Africa Cup of Nations.
The selection of the seeded
teams was based on the latest FIFA ranking of the teams. Despite being ranked
the 6th best team on the continent, both Cameroon and Egypt, being ranked
outside the top 6 in Africa means they take the place of the Black Stars and DR
Congo, pushing them into Pot 2.
Ghana will be joined in Pot
2 by DR Congo, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea and Algeria.
Full AFCON 2019 Draw Pots:
Pot 1: Egypt, Cameroon,
Senegal, Tunisia, Nigeria, Morocco
Pot 2: DR Congon, Ghana,
Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Algeria
Pot 3: South Africa,
Uganda, Benin, Mauritania, Madagascar, Kenya
Pot 4: Zimbabwe, Namibia,
Guinea Bissau, Angola, Tanzania, Burundi
Draw procedure:
According to the Article
73.1 of the regulations of the competition;
– The organizing country
(Egypt) shall be the head of group A.
– The holder of the trophy
(Cameroon) will be the head of one of the five other groups in addition to 4
other head of groups determined in accordance to the ranking.
The following 4 pots will
be on stage:
Pot 4:
Containing the 6 teams of level IV
Pot 3:
Containing the 6 teams of level III
Pot 2:
Containing the 6 teams of level II
Pot 1:
Containing the 5 teams of level I (Host country is in position A1)
Step 1:
Pot 4:
The 6 less seeded teams of level IV will be in pot 4
The first ball drawn will
go directly to group A; in position A4.
The second ball drawn will
go directly to group B; in position B4
The third ball drawn will
go directly to group C; in position C4
The fourth ball drawn will
go directly to group D; in position D4
The fifth ball drawn will
go directly to group E; in position E4
The sixth ball drawn will
go directly to group F; in position F4
Step 2:
Pot 3:
The 6 teams of level III will be in pot 3
The first ball drawn will
go directly to group A; in position A3.
The second ball drawn will
go directly to group B; in position B3
The third ball drawn will
go directly to group C; in position C3
The fourth ball drawn will
go directly to group D; in position D3
The fifth ball drawn will
go directly to group E; in position E3
The sixth ball drawn will
go directly to group F; in position F3
Source: Cafonline.com