Isa Hayatou, Caf President
The search for continental laurels at the 2013 Nations Cup begins as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) pits the 16 qualified countries against each other in the final draw today.
Sports persons particularly football lovers, from the very highest level to the ball boy are expected to converge at iNkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in South Africa.
Ghana?s Black Stars, one of the top seeded countries, are in Pot One with South Africa, defending champions Zambia and losing finalists Cote d?Ivoire.
Pot two has last edition?s bronze winning side Mali, Tunisia, Angola and returnees Nigeria, while Algeria, Burkina Faso, Morocco and Niger are grouped in Pot three.
Cape Verde, who return to the Nations Cup after 30 years, are in Pot four with Togo, DR Congo and Ethiopia.
South Africa host the biennial competition after they last hosted and won the cup in 1996, where the Abedi Pele-led Stars bowed to the hosts at the semis.
Ghana has since struggled until Angola hosted the competition in 2010 which saw Ghana?s Serbian trainer Milovan Rajevac leading the team to the finals after 10 years.
Teams in the same Pot cannot be drawn against each other in the competition slated for South Africa from January 19 to February 10 next year.
According to CAF, with the ?exception of the host country (South Africa) and holder of the trophy (Zambia), the 14 qualified teams will be ranked based on their performances during the last three Orange Africa Cup of Nations, i.e. the 2008, 2010 and 2012 editions.?
By Kofi Owusu Aduonum
