Ghana have been handed tricky opponents in the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023 qualifications group stage during a draw ceremony on Tuesday.
The draw which was conducted in South African city of Johannesburg placed the four-time African champions in Group E alongside Madagascar, Angola and Central African Republic.
48 national teams entered the draw having been seeded into four pots of twelve based on the FIFA World Rankings released on 31 March 2022.
Madagascar made their maiden and only appearance at the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019 when Egypt hosted the tournament where the Barea surprised everyone by reaching the quarter-finals.
The island in the Indian Ocean recorded victories against Nigeria, DR Congo and Burundi and drew with Guinea to get that far in the tournament.
The only meeting between the Black Stars and Madagascar happened in March 2003 during a four nation tournament in Tunisia with Ghana winning 10-9 on penalties after 3-3 in regulation time.
Angola have previously been to 8 Africa Cup of Nations in their history with the last one in 2019 in Egypt where they finished 3rd in a Group with Mali, Tunisia and Mauritania.
The Palancas Negras last played against the Black Stars when they hosted the tournament in 2010, losing 1-0 in the end in a quarter-finals fixture.
Ghana and Angola have faced each other in Africa Cup of Nations qualifications which was a place for the 1998 edition in Burkina Faso where either teams prevailed in their respective home games.
Central Africa Republic remain one of the few countries yet to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations final tournament and have never faced Ghana anywhere.
The Africa Cup of Nations is the biggest football showpiece in Africa and the next championship will be held in Cote d’Ivoire in 2023.
Qualifying is set to begin with two matches between May 30, 2022 and June 14, 2022. Two more fixtures will follow in September, with the final two rounds in March next year.
CAF will announce the dates and schedule of fixtures in due course.
