2015 Africa Cup - draw is made

The draw for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers has been made at the headquarters of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Cairo, Egypt.

The defending champions, Nigeria, have drawn South Africa in one of seven qualifying groups. North African rivals Tunisia and Egypt will face each other; Ghana will meet Togo, and the Ivory Coast and Cameroon are drawn together.

Three teams were drawn in each group at Sunday's ceremony. A fourth team will emerge from two more qualifying rounds. Eventually, the group winners and runners-up will go through to the 2015 finals, as will the best third-placed side and the hosts Morocco.

First round

• Liberia vs Lesotho

• Kenya vs Comoros Islands

• Madagascar vs Uganda

• Mauritania vs Equatorial Guinea

• Namibia vs Congo

• Libya vs Rwanda

• Burundi vs Botswana

• Central African Republic vs Guinea-Bissau

 • Swaziland vs Sierra Leone

• Gambia vs Seychelles

• Sao Tome e Príncipe vs Benin

• Malawi vs Chad

• Tanzania vs Zimbabwe

• Mozambique vs South Sudan

These are all two-legged qualifiers, with the team named first hosting the opening leg on the weekend of 16-18 May. The return leg will be played on the weekend of 30-31 May and 1 June. The aggregate winners advance to the second round.

Second round

• Liberia or Lesotho vs Kenya or Comoros Islands

• Madagascar or Uganda vs Mauritania or Equatorial Guinea

• Namibia or Congo vs Libya or Rwanda

• Burundi or Botswana vs Central African Republic or Guinea-Bissau

• Swaziland or Sierra Leone vs Gambia or Seychelles

• Sao Tome e Principe or Benin vs Malawi or Chad

• Tanzania or Zimbabwe vs Mozambique or South Sudan

These are all two-legged qualifiers, with the team named first hosting the opening leg on the weekend of 18-20 July. The return leg will be played on the weekend of 1-3 August. The aggregate winners advance to the group stage.

Group Stage

GROUP A

Nigeria

Sudan 

South Africa 

- plus winners of: Namibia vs Congo Brazzaville and Libya vs Rwanda

GROUP B

Mali

Ethiopia

Algeria 

- plus winners of: Sao Tome e Principe vs Benin and Malawi vs Chad

GROUP C

Burkina Faso

Gabon

Angloa 

- plus winners of: Liberia vs Lesotho and Kenya vs Comoros Islands

GROUP D

Ivory Coast

Democratic Republic of Congo

Cameroon 

- plus winners of: Swaziland vs Sierra Leone and Gambia vs. Seychelles

GROUP E

Ghana

Guinea

Togo 

- plus winners of: Madagascar vs Uganda and Mauritania vs Equatorial Guinea

GROUP F

Zambia

Niger

Cape Verde Islands 

- plus winners of: Tanzania vs Zimbabwe and Mozambique vs South Sudan

GROUP G

Tunisia

Senegal

Egypt 

- plus winners of: Burundi vs Botswana and the Central African Republic vs Guinea-Bissau

The top two countries in each group, plus the best third-placed finisher, qualify for the finals along with the hosts, Morocco. The group matches will be played on 5-6 September and 10 September; 10-11 October and 15 October; 14-15 November and 19 November.