Black Stars out to avoid 'Group of Death' at 2015 AFCON

Ghana’s national team the Black Stars will be hoping to get a favourable draw when the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) groups are confirmed on Wednesday.

The groups for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea will be confirmed on Wednesday, December 3, and Black Stars' in-coming coach Avram Grant will be hoping that his side is handed a favourable draw.

The 16 competing teams have been divided into four pots based on their rankings and how well the team fared at the previous three AFCON tournaments.

The four AFCON 2015 finals groups will then be determined by drawing one team from each pot.

The Black Stars find themselves in Pot 1 alongside hosts Equatorial Guinea, Zambia and Burkina Faso, meaning they cannot be drawn to face those sides.

However, Ghana could face the likes of Ivory Coast, Algeria, Cameroon and Senegal.

According to the latest FIFA rankings for African teams, GHANAsoccernet.com have analysed the best and worst-case scenarios for the national team.

At this moment, Avram Grant will be hoping that he avoids the biggest names in Pot 2 where Ivory Coast, Algeria and Tunisia pose the biggest threat to Black Stars’ qualification from the group stage.

Mali remains the only side in Pot 2 ranked below Black Stars on the FIFA rankings.

Pot 2 is the one that will most concern the national team with four very strong teams making up the pot. Ghana will be out to avoid Ivory Coast, Algeria and Tunisia – all pre-tournament favourites.

Ghana are the best-ranked side in Pot 1.

Pot 3 also presents two tricky teams that include Cape Verde, who are ranked 7th in Africa on the FIFA rankings while South Africa, who are 11th in Africa will also pose a threat. Gabon or DR Congo should be the best draw for Ghana.

The last pot also presents danger with Cameroon, Senegal and Guinea looming large. Avram Grant would love Congo to be drawn against his side as they faced the strong Guinea side in the qualifiers while Cameroon and Senegal are on the rise with terrific form.

Best-case AFCON 2015 group:

Ghana (5), Mali (10), Gabon (11) and Congo (13).

Worst-case AFCON 2015 group:

Ghana (5), Algeria (1), Cape Verde (7) and Senegal (4).

All the pots with FIFA AFRICAN rankings:

Pot 1

Equatorial Guinea (37)

Ghana (5)

Zambia (15) Burkina Faso (18)

Pot 2

Ivory Coast (3)

Mali (10)

Tunisia (2)

Algeria (1)

Pot 3

Cape Verde (7)

South Africa (11)

Gabon (17)

DR Congo (12)

Pot 4

Cameroon (8)

Senegal (4)

Guinea (6)

Congo (13)

The draw will be televised live from Malabo from 18:00 on SuperSport and GTV on Wednesday, December 3.

The 2015 AFCON tournament takes place in Equatorial Guinea from January 17 to February 8, 2015.