Afcon 2017: Ivory Coast start campaign against Togo
Ivory Coast will start their defence of the Africa Cup of Nations against Togo in January, according to the draw made.
|||Ivory Coast will start their defence of the Africa Cup of Nations against Togo in January, according to the draw made on Wednesday.
Ivory Coast, who beat Ghana on ponalties in the 2015 final, are in Group C against Togo, Morocco and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Hosts Gabon will stage the opening match in Libreville on January 14 against Group A opponents Guinea-Bissau who make their first appearance in the 16-nation tournament.
Cameroon and Burkina Faso are also in the group.
The other group favourites, Algeria and Ghana start against Zimbabwe and Uganda respectively.
Algeria have the toughest first round task in Group B where they must also take on Tunisia and Senegal for one of the two qualifying places for the quarter-finals.
Ghana are the team to beat in Group D. Apart from Uganda, they will take on Egypt, making their return to the contest after missing three finals, and Mali.
The final is in Libreville on February 5.
Fixtures for 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon after draw was made in Libreville:
Group A
Jan 14
Gabon v Guinea-Bissau , Burkina Faso v Cameroon -
Jan 18
Gabon v Burkina Faso, Cameroon v Guinea-Bissau
Jan 22
Gabon v Cameroon
Guinea-Bissau v Burkina Faso
Group B
Jan 15
Algeria v Zimbabwe, Tunisia v Senegal
Jan 19
Algeria v Tunisia, Senegal v Zimbabwe
Jan 23
Algeria v Senegal
Zimbabwe v Tunisia
Group C
Jan 16
Ivory Coast (holders) v Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo v Morocco
Jan 20
Ivory Coast v DR Congo, Morocco v Togo
Jan 24
Ivory Coast v Morocco
Togo v DR Congo
Group D
Jan 17
Ghana v Uganda, Mali v Egypt
Jan 21
Ghana v Mali, Egypt v Uganda
Jan 25
Ghana v Egypt
Uganda v Mali
AFP