African Cup Of Nations Fixtures Released; South Africa To Face Cape Verde In Opener

The final draw for the 2013 African Cup of Nations Wendesday revealed that host South Africa will play Cape Verde in the opening game, according to the AP. Ivory Coast and standout Didier Drogba "will be tested" by former champions Tunisia and Algeria in the group stage. Ivory Coast coach Sabri Lamouchi said, "This is most certainly the group of death." Bafana Bafana and Cape Verde will open the tournament at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium on Jan. 19. The venue was formerly Soccer City and the venue for the 2010 World Cup final. The five stadiums hosting games are all former World Cup venues: FNB Stadium, Moses Mabhida, Nelson Mandela Bay, Royal Bafokeng Stadium and Mbombela Stadium. The FNB will only host the opening game and the final, with the semifinals at Moses Mabhida and Mbombela. South Africa is hosting the '13 tournament in place of Libya, which lost the event "because of security concerns" (AP, 10/25).

Click here for a list of fixtures for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.