CAF Confirms Date for Africa Cup of Nations Final Draw in Morocco
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced that the draw for the final phase of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will take place on 26 November 2014 in Rabat, the capital of Morocco.
As the qualification rounds enter their decisive third and fourth stages, attention is beginning to shift towards the upcoming tournament, which will be hosted by Morocco in early 2015.
CAF confirmed that the 15 teams set to join the host nation in the finals will be determined by mid-November, once the final round of group matches is completed. The draw in Rabat will then reveal the group-stage matchups for the prestigious continental competition.
The tournament will feature 16 teams in total, with Morocco securing automatic qualification as hosts. The remaining teams will emerge from a competitive qualification campaign, which has seen strong performances from both established African footballing nations and surprise contenders.
The 2015 edition of the tournament marks a return to North Africa for the first time since Egypt hosted the event in 2006. Morocco, which last hosted the tournament in 1988, is preparing to welcome fans from across the continent, with cities such as Rabat, Marrakech, Agadir, and Tangier expected to play key roles as host venues.
The Africa Cup of Nations is Africa’s premier football tournament and is held every two years. The 2013 title was claimed by Nigeria, who will be looking to defend their crown amid fierce competition from regional rivals including Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Algeria.
The draw in Rabat will not only determine the group stages but will also set the stage for what promises to be another exciting edition of Africa’s flagship football tournament. Football fans across the continent will be watching closely as teams battle for a spot in the final lineup.
