Host Morocco to open 35th AFCON against minnows Comoros

Host Atlas of Morocco will play the opening match of the 35th African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals on December 21st this year against the Coelacanths of the  Comoros  in Group A .

Both the opening match and the final set for January 18th next year will be staged in the 69,500 seater Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.

This was revealed on Monday night when the final draw for the 24 qualified nations was conducted in Rabat, Morocco.

Other teams in Group A include the 2012 champions Chipolopolo of Zambia and the four-time semifinalists The Eagles from Mali.

Egyptian Pharaohs, the seven-time champions, will get their 28th AFCON appearance underway against the Warriors of Zimbabwe in Group B.

In what seems like the COSAFA rivalry,  group B  also pits the 1996 AFCON Champions Bafana Bafana of South Africa and the Palancas Negras from Angola.

Three-time winners, the Super Eagles of Nigeria, are in Group C against the East African duo of Uganda Cranes  and  Taifa Stars of Tanzania, and the 2004 champions Tunisia, AKA the Carthage Eagles.

2022 champions  Teranga Lions of Senegal are in Group D with  two  time champions  The Leopards of DR Congo, The Cheetahs of Benin, and the Zebras from Botswana.

Desert foxes from Algeria  who awill be chasing the title  for  a  3rd time  will lead Group E against the Stallions of Burkina Faso,Nzalang Nacionale of  Equatorial Guinea, and the Nile Crocodiles of  Sudan.

Defending champions, the Elephants of Ivory Coast, are in Group F  together with 5-time champions, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, the Panthers of Gabon and the Mambas of Mozambique.

While delivering his speech, CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe exuded confidence with Morocco delivering the best-ever AFCON finals.

The month-long tournament will be staged in 9 venues spread across six cities in Morocco.

For the 1st time in the tournament history the 24 participating  teams will be allocated their  bases.