The other brings Senegal (10) and Egypt (fifth) together in Dakar at the start of Group G, branded the ‘group of death’ as it also includes Tunisia.

Egypt are out to regain a place among the elite having failed to qualify in 2012 and 2013 after lifting the African trophy a record three consecutive times.

Coach Shawky Gharib, assistant to Hassan Shehata during the golden 2006-2010 period has put the emphasis on youth but still found room for 41-year-old goalkeeper Essam Al Hadary.

Nigeria’s forward Peter Odemwingie controls the ball during the Group F football match between Nigeria and Bosnia-Hercegovina at the Pantanal Arena in Cuiaba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 21, 2014. AFP PHOTO

Stephen Keshi this year became the first black African coach to reach the World Cup last-16, but Nigeria did not renew his contract after a second-round loss to France.

He will guide the “Super Eagles” against Congo and South Africa, working with a squad chosen by officials before he agreed to a caretaker role.

South Africa will lack injured goalkeeper-captain Itumeleng Khune and several axed regulars of recent years in Sudan with new coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba vowing his youthful team will “fight”.

Other attractive pairings include Ethiopia-Algeria in Addis Ababa, Democratic Republic of Congo-Cameroon in Lubumbashi and Ghana-Uganda in Kumasi.