Ghana seeded for AFCON 2017

Ghana has been named as a top seed for next year’s Nations Cup in Gabon. The top seeding means the Black Stars would avoid the top ranked African side in world football like Algeria, Ivory Coast and host Gabon at the draw to be held in Libreville on October 19.

CAF said it had settled on the top seeds based on performance of qualified countries for the last three Nations Cups and last two world cups. And based on that the Black Stars have been handed what could be either an incredibly tough path to the knockout stages or a relatively easy one.

Ghana would draw one of Tunisia, Mali, Burkina Faso or Congo DR from Pot B. Pot C has some of the most in form teams on the continent with Egypt, Morocco, Senegal and Cameroon. Whoever Ghana draws from that pot, it is bound to be a huge game.

Pot D includes neighbours Togo, debutants Guinea Bissau, Uganda who are making a return to the competition after a 38 year absence and Zimbabwe.

The distribution of teams in the pots means we could be served some fascinating games at the competition. For instance Ghana could draw Tunisia and Egypt or Morocco in the same group. There could even be a superb North Africa battle in one group with the possibility of Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt landing in the same group.

Whatever groups the draw throws up on October 19, it is fair to say, winning a fifth Nations Cup for Ghana would require monumental effort in Gabon.