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Igesund welcomes Chan draw

Johannesburg - Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund has welcomed the 2014 Championship of African Nations (CHAN) draw, which will pit his side against neighbours Mozambique, Mali and Nigeria.

The Chan tournament is an event for locally based players only, and will take place in South Africa from 11 January to 1 February next year.

Reacting to the draw conducted in Cairo on Wednesday, the Bafana Bafana coach said there were no easy teams as all teams had qualified for the January/February tournament on merit.

"It is a tough draw, probably the toughest of the four groups but I welcome it.

We are playing at home and that should galvanise us to do well," he said.

"We could have drawn anyone and it could still have been tough because there are no easy matches any more in international competition.

"We are going to need all our best players so we can do well in this event," said Igesund.

South Africa opens the account against neighbours Mozambique on January 11, followed by a clash with Mali four days later and completes the group stages against Nigeria on 19 January.

"On paper this is a Group of Death but there was never going to be easy teams.

"It will also give the boys a massive boost should they qualify for the next stage having accounted for some of the big names in the early stages.

"So yes, it is a tough draw but I more than welcome it," he said.

There will be 32 matches played in 16 match days with Cape Town hosting two quarter-final games and the other two in Mangaung and Polokwane.

The semi-finals will both take place in Mangaung whilst Cape Town will host the final and the third-place matches.

The 2014 African Nations Championship (Chan) draw that took place in Cairo on Wednesday:

Group A:
South Africa, Mali, Nigeria, Mozambique

Group B:
Zimbabwe, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Morocco

Group C:
Ghana, Libya, Ethiopia, Congo Brazzaville

Group D:
Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Burundi, Mauritania

Complete fixtures for 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) between January 11 and February 1 in South Africa (times GMT):

Group A:
(Seeding: 1. South Africa, 2. Mali, 3. Nigeria, 4. Mozambique)

Matches at Cape Town Stadium unless noted

January 11:
South Africa v Mozambique - 16:00
Mali v Nigeria - 19:00

January 15:

South Africa v Mali - 15:00
Nigeria v Mozambique - 18:00

January 19:
South Africa v Nigeria 17:00
Mali v Mozambique, Athlone Stadium, Cape Town - 17:00

Group B:
(Seeding: 1. Zimbabwe, 2. Uganda, 3. Burkina Faso, 4. Morocco)

Matches at Athlone Stadium unless noted

January 12:

Zimbabwe v Morocco - 15:00
Uganda v Burkina Faso - 18:00

January 16:

Zimbabwe v Uganda - 15:00
Burkina Faso v Morocco - 18:00

January 20:
Zimbabwe v Burkina Faso - 17:00
Uganda v Morocco, Cape Town Stadium - 17:00

Group C:
(Seeding: 1. Ghana, 2. Libya, 3. Ethiopia, 4. Congo Brazzaville)

Matches at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein unless noted

January 13:

Ghana v Congo - 15:00
Libya v Ethiopia - 18:00

January 17:
Ghana v Libya - 15:00
Ethiopia v Congo - 18:00

January 21:
Ghana v Ethiopia - 17:00
Libya v Congo, Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane - 17:00

Group D:

(Seeding: 1. Democratic Republic of Congo, 2. Gabon, 3. Burundi, 4. Mauritania)

Matches at Peter Mokaba Stadium unless noted

January 14:

DR Congo v Mauritania - 15:00
Gabon v Burundi - 18:00

January 18:

DR Congo v Gabon - 15:00
 Burundi v Mauritania - 18:00

January 22:
DR Congo v Burundi - 17:00
Gabon v Mauritania, Bloemfontein - 17:00

Quarter-finals:

January 25:

(Both at Cape Town Stadium)

Group B winners v Group A runners-up - 15:00
Group A winners v Group B runners-up 18:30.

January 26:
Group D winners v Group C runners-up, Polokwane - 15:00
Group C winners v Group D runners-up, Bloemfontein - 18:30

Semi-finals:

(Both in Bloemfontein)

January 29:

winners 2 v winners 3 - 15:00
winners 1 v winners 4 - 18:30

Third place playoff:


February 1:
Losing semi-finalists, Cape Town Stadium - 15:00

Final:

February 1:
Winning semi-finalists, Cape Town Stadium - 18:00

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