Rwanda pitted against reigning champions Senegal in AFCON 2023 qualifiers

The Amavubi of Rwanda have been pitted against reigning champions Senegal in the group qualifiers for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023.

During the draw conducted in Johannesburg, South Africa on Tuesday night Rwanda were placed in Group L alongside Senegal, Benin and Mozambique.

Samson Adamu, the CAF Competitions Director was in-charge of the ceremony, while former South African captain Lucas Redebe and ex-Ivory Coast striker Solomon Kalou helped conduct the draw.

Ethiopia who played at the AFCON 2021 in Cameroon have been placed in Group D alongside Egypt, Guinea and Malawi, while Sudan are in Group I together with DR Congo, Gabon and Mauritania.

CECAFA teams Uganda and Tanzania have been placed in the same Group F together with 2019 champions Algeria and Niger. Kenya who are suspended by FIFA from all football activities have also been included in the draw where they will face Cameroon, Namibia and Burundi in Group C.

South Sudan who eliminated Djibouti in the preliminary round last month are placed in Group G together with Mali, Congo and The Gambia.

The first two group matches will be played between May and June, while two more matches will be played in September and the next two in March 2023.

Groups

Group A: Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Sao Tome & Principe/Mauritius

Group B: Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Togo, Eswatini

Group C: Cameroon, Kenya, Namibia, Burundi

Group D: Egypt, Guinea, Malawi, Ethiopia

Group E: Ghana, Madagascar, Angola, Central African Republic

Group F: Algeria, Uganda, Niger, Tanzania

Group G: Mali, Congo, Gambia, South Sudan

Group H: Cote d’Ivoire, Zambia, Comoros, Lesotho

Group I: DR Congo, Gabon, Mauritania, Sudan

Group J: Tunisia, Guinea, Libya, Botswana

Group K: Morocco, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Liberia

Group L: Senegal, Benin, Mozambique, Rwanda