Ethiopia, Nigeria draw in same Africa Nations Cup group

The Waliyas, Ethiopia National football Team, were drawn in the same group as football powerhouse Nigeria for 2012 African Cup of Nations on Saturday. Guinea, another strong contender, and Madagascar complete Group 2.

Nigeria which is ranked the 15th best football team in the world by FIFA will certainly be a very tough opponent for Ethiopia which has not qualified for Africa Cup of Nations since 1982. FIFA ranks Ethiopia as 121 in the world and Guinea ranks 90.

The Confederation of African Football released the draw in the southern DR Congo mining city of Lubumbashi, where the annual African Super Cup match will be staged on Sunday between local club TP Mazembe and Stade Malien of Mali.

Draw

Group 1: Mali, Cape Verde Islands, Zimbabwe, Liberia

Group 2: Nigeria, Guinea, Ethiopia, Madagascar

Group 3: Zambia, Mozambique, Libya, Comoros Islands

Group 4: Algeria, Morocco, Tanzania, Central African Republic

Group 5: Cameroon, Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritius

Group 6: Burkina Faso, Gambia, Namibia, Mauritania

Group 7: Egypt (holders), South Africa, Sierra Leone, Niger

Group 8: Ivory Coast, Benin, Rwanda, Burundi

Group 9: Ghana, Congo, Sudan, Swaziland

Group 10: Angola, Uganda, Kenya, Guinea Bissau

Group 11: Tunisia, Malawi, Chad, Botswana

Note: Group winners plus best three runners-up qualify for finals with co-hosts Gabon and Equatorial Guinea

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Ethiopian National Football Record

CECAFA Cup :
4 times Champion (1987, 2001, 2004, 2005)
1 time third place finish (2000)
1 time fourth place finish (1995)
World Cup record
Never Qualified

African Nations Cup record

1957 - Second place
1959 - Third place
1962 - Champions
1963 - Fourth place
1965 - Round 1
1968 - Fourth place
1970 - Round 1
1976 - Round 1
1982 - Round 1