Eagles, Bafana await Pot 2 fate in AFCON draw

Super Eagles celebrate after beating Sao Tome and Principe 6-0 last weekend in Uyo

• ighalo scores fastest hat trick in saudi pro league

The Super Eagles of Nigeria and Bafana Bafana of South Africa are among the teams in Pot 2 for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) holding in Cote d’Ivoire. The draw ceremony will take place on October 12.

With the qualifiers now concluded, the focus shifts to the all-important draw that will determine the groups for the tournament.

The journey to AFCON 2023 has been filled with excitement and challenges for all participating nations.

Nigeria, one of Africa’s football giants, stamped their ticket to the tournament by finishing atop Group A with an impressive 15 points.

On the other hand, South Africa’s qualification campaign in Group K was marked by a different set of circumstances. The Bafana Bafana finished at the summit of their group with seven points, showcasing their determination to make a statement in Cote d’Ivoire.

The draw for the group stage of AFCON 2023 is an event eagerly awaited by fans, pundits, and football enthusiasts alike.

Nigeria and South Africa, both residing in Pot 2, will be looking to avoid the tougher groups but also to embrace the challenge that awaits them.

With an expanded 24-team format, AFCON 2023, which will hold in January 2024, promises to be even more competitive than previous editions.

Meanwhile, Nigerian forward, Odion Ighalo, needed only 35 minutes to score the fastest hat-trick in the Saudi Pro League this season.

The former Manchester United striker was in red-hot form as Al Wehda defeated Damac following the resumption of the league after the international break.

Ighalo also became the fifth player to score a hat-trick in the league this season,