AFCON Draw: Sadio Mane Reacts to Senegal Being Drawn Against Cameroon, Video

• Sadio Mane has shared his thoughts on the AFCON 2023 draw that was held on Thursday
• The Al-Nassr star also aired his opinion about the continent's biggest football tournament
• Mane has admitted it will be tough for Senegal to face Cameroon in the AFCON group stage

Al-Nassr winger, Sadio Mane has reacted to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations draw, which was held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on Thursday evening, October 12.

The Senegalese international was among the draw assistants for the event alongside Paris Saint-Germain defender, Achraf Hakimi and Chelsea legends, Didier Drogba and John Mikel Obi.

The defending champions, Senegal were drawn in Group C alongside the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, as well as Guinea and Gambia.

After the draw, Mane acknowledged in an interview that Cameroon is not an easy side, but was certain the Teranga Lions would give their best to go through to the next round, according to a report by CAF Online.

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"It's a really difficult group," he said. "Cameroon is going to be really tough, but we will give our best to go through from the first round."

The former Liverpool star also made a bold claim about AFCON 2023:

“There are no more small teams in Africa. This will be the toughest AFCON in history, and there may be some surprises," he was translated as saying.

Senegal will hope to defend their title in Ivory Coast next year, but they will need to get past tough opponents like Cameroon and Gambia in the group stage.

AFCON draw: Nigeria to face host nation

Sports Brief also reported that the draw for the 2023 AFCON tournament was held in Abidjan on Thursday evening, with Nigeria facing host nation Ivory Coast, while South Africa were drawn in Group E alongside Mali.

Top teams from the continent like Senegal, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, and Ivory Coast were all placed in Pot 1 of the competition's draw, with Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, and Burkina Faso confirmed in Pot 2.

The Teranga Lions of Senegal will be looking to defend their AFCON title in the West African nation but will face a tricky group stage against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, who they were drawn with in Group C.