GhanaFA

Ghana drawn with Ivory Coast

15 years ago
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Ghana have been drawn in Group B alongside fellow World Cup finalist Ivory Coast for the 2010 African Cup of Nations finals next January.

Black Stars coach Milovan Rajevac was in Accra as he watched the ceremony in Luanda on Friday afternoon, and also saw his team drawn against Burkina Faso and Togo in an all-West African battle.

It will be a tough battle in Group B where Ghana, four-time champions have a date with Ivory Coast, a side they beat to bronze at the last CAN.

The group will also throw up a clash between Ghana’s Michael Essien and Chelsea teammates Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou of the Ivory Coast in the three-week tournament.

In Group A, hosts Angola will line up against Algeria, Mali and Malawi, back for a second appearance 25 years after last competing.

Angola and Mali will be play in the opening game of the tournament at the 50,000-seater Cidadela Stadium in the capital, Luanda on 10 January 2010.

Holders, Egypt will start from Benguela in Group C with Mozambique, Benin, Nigeria, who have also qualified for the World Cup.

In Lubango, Cameroon qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, former African champions and potential winners of the CAN will be there Gabon, Zambia, Tunisia.

Two top teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals.

The tournament begins on 10 January 2010 in Luanda and reaches it climax at the same venue on January 31.

The 32-fixture tournament will be played at four new Chinese-built stadiums in Luanda, Benguela, Cabinda and Lubango.

Group A - Luanda

Angola, Mali, Algeria and Malawi

Group B - Cabinda

Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Togo

Group C - Benguela

Egypt, Mozambique, Nigeria and Benin

Group D - Lubango

Cameroon, Gabon, Zambia and Tunisia

In attendance for the draw would be Caf President Issa Hayatou and Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos with Ghana represented by FA President, Kwesi Nyantakyi.

The 15 teams who have qualified to play in Angola are Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, defending champions Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Togo, Tunisia and Zambia.