By

Eniola Olatunji

Hosts of the 35th edition of the male African Cup of Nations (AFCON), The Atlas Lions of Morocco is to open the competition on 21st December against Comoros that are coming to the party for the second time at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat where the hosts will play all her group A matches.

According to the draws made on Monday night in Rabat, on 22nd December Eagles of Mali will face Zambia. Group A second round matches will be played on 26th December when Morocco will face Mali and Zambia will handle Comoros but the last group matches will be played on the 29th when Zambia takes on Morocco and Comoros will try to wound Mali.  

Egypt in group B will be tough with South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe as Mohammed Salah will lead Egypt against Zimbabwe at the Adrar Stadium, Agadir on 22nd December the day South Africa will face fellow Angolans.

Second round group B games is on 26th December when the testy encounter between Egypt and South Africa will take place and Angola will same day play Zimbabwe. Last goup games are on 29th December when Angola will try Egypt for size and Zimbabwe will try to overcome South Africa.

Nigeria opens her Group C campaign against Tanzania on 23rd December at Fez same day Tunisia will play Uganda at Rabat. Second Group C matches are on 27th December when Nigeria plays a crucial match against Tunisia and Uganda engage Tanzania while the last group games are on 30th December when Uganda will face Nigeria and Tunisia will tackle Tanzania in a match already tagged TUNTAN.

Former Champions, Teranga Lions of Senegal will on 23rd Decmber in Group D open her campaign against Botswana at the Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier same day DR Congo will play Benin Republic at the Al Barid Stadium, Rabat.

Second round group D games will take place on 27th December between Senegal and DR Congo and Benin versus Botswana while last group D matches will be played on 30th December between Benin Republic and Sengal as well as Botswana versus DR Congo

Algeria in Group E will open the group against Sudan at Moulay Stadium in Rabat on 24th December while Stallions of Burkina Faso will play E. Guinea. Algeria will face Burkina Faso in the second round while E. Guinea will face Sudan and he last group matches will be E. Guinea versus Algeria and Sudan vs Burkina Faso at Casablanca on 31st December.

Defending Champions, Ivory Coast will open her defence against Mozambique at Marrakesh on 24th December in group F when the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon will roar against Gabon    

Second round matches of Group F will see top group match between Ivory Coast and Cameroon on 28th December at Marrakesh before fans will watch Gabon versus Mozambique at Agadir. Final gropu games are on New Year’s Eve and it will be Gabon against Ivory Coast and Mozambique against Cameroon.