Sadio Mane: AFCON Winner Shares Excitement Ahead of Draw, Anticipates Tough Group

• Sadio Mane has arrived in Abidjan for the 2023 AFCON draw
• The Al Nassr star led Senegal to AFCON success in Cameroon
• The Teranga Lions will find out their opponents at the draw on Thursday

Senegal and Al Nassr forward, Sadio Mane is looking forward to an exciting 2023 Africa Cup of Nations draw in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Thursday, October 12, 2023.

The former Liverpool winger arrived in Abidjan on Wednesday as a special guest for the draw as Senegal looks to defend their title.

Mane played a pivotal role as the Teranga Lions won their first-ever AFCON title, scoring the winning penalty against Egypt in the final last year.

"Hi guys, I am really happy to be here for tomorrow's draw. Let's go, it won't be easy but Africa," said Mane in a video shared on social media.

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The defending champions have been seeded in Pot 1 of the draw and will avoid host Ivory Coast, last year's runners-up Egypt and World Cup semi-finalist, Morocco.

However, the West African football powerhouse could face Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon, who have been seeded in Pot 2, as reported by the BBC.

Meanwhile, Senegal will engage five-time African champions Cameroon in an international friendly on Monday, October 16, 2023, as part of preparations for next month's World Cup qualifiers.

Sadio Mane arrives in Abidjan for AFCON draw

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Al-Nassr winger Sadio Mane has joined the array of football stars who have arrived in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations draw.

The draw is set to take place at the Parc des Expositions d'Abidjan in Abidjan, on Thursday evening, October 12.

African football legends like Didier Drogba, John Mikel Obi, Salomon Kalou, and others are already in Abidjan for the draw.

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Akon announced as host of AFCON 2023 draw

Famous Senegalese-American singer, Akon has been confirmed as the host of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations draw in Ivory Coast on October 12, 2023.

The business mogul will be joined by former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure for the final draw of the tournament, which will be held in January and February next year.

The event will see 24 countries divided into six groups for the continental championship.