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Bafana out to avoid AFCON 'Group of Death'

Cape Town - Bafana Bafana will be hoping to get a favourable draw when the AFCON groups are confirmed on Wednesday.

The groups for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea will be confirmed on Wednesday, December 3 and Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba will be hoping that his side is handed a favourable draw.

The 16 competing teams have been divided into four pots based on their rankings and how well the team fared at the previous three AFCON tournaments. The four AFCON 2015 finals groups will then be determined by drawing one team from each pot.

Bafana Bafana find themselves in Pot 3 alongside Cape Verde, Gabon and DR Congo, meaning they cannot be drawn to face those sides. However, Mashaba's side could face the likes of Ghana, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Cameroon and Senegal.

According to the latest FIFA rankings for African teams, Sport24 have analysed the best and worst-case scenarios for the national team. 

At this moment, Shakes Mashaba will be hoping that he avoids the big name in Pot 1 where Ghana pose the biggest threat to Bafana Bafana's qualification from the group stage. The three remaining sides are all ranked below Bafana Bafana on the FIFA rankings with hosts Equatorial Guinea, the worst team in the first pot.

Pot 2 is the one that will most concern the national team with four very strong teams making up the pot. South Africa will be out to avoid Ivory Coast, Algeria and Tunisia - all pre-tournament favourites.

South Africa are the best ranked side in Pot 3.

The last pot also presents danger with Cameroon and Senegal looming large. Mashaba would love Congo to be drawn against his side after facing the Congolese in qualifying. 

Best-case AFCON 2015 group:

Equatorial Guinea (37), Mali (10), South Africa (11) and Congo (13).

Worst-case AFCON 2015 group:

Ghana (5), Algeria (1), South Africa (11) and Senegal (4).

All the pots with FIFA AFRICAN rankings:

Pot 1

Equatorial Guinea (37)

Ghana (5)
Zambia (15)
Burkina Faso (18)

Pot 2

Ivory Coast (3)
Mali (10)
Tunisia (2)
Algeria (1)

Pot 3

Cape Verde (7)
South Africa (11)
Gabon (17)
DR Congo (12)

Pot 4

Cameroon (8)
Senegal (4)
Guinea (6)
Congo (13)

The draw will be televised live from Malabo from 20:00 (SS7HD, SS7, SS7N, Select) on Wednesday, December 3. 

The 2015 AFCON tournament takes place in Equatorial Guinea from January 17 to February 8, 2015.
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