Super Eagles will have to battle the most successful country in the AFCON Egypt, Sudan and Guinea Bissau for a place in the knockout rounds of the delayed 2021 AFCON to be staged by Cameroon.
Three-time African champions Nigeria head Group D based in the Northern Cameroonian town of Garoua.
On paper, it will be a straight shootout for top spot between the Eagles and the Pharaohs, who have won the competition a record seven times and hosted the last tournament and were knocked out by South Africa.
Both African super powers will come face-to-face in the opening match of Group D on January 11.
Egypt stopped Nigeria from the 2017 tournament when they won 2-1 on aggregate in the final qualifying playoffs.
The Pharaohs also beat Nigeria 3-1 in the group stage of the 2010 AFCON in Angola.
Egypt will also relish a renewal of the Nile rivalry with neigbours Sudan.
Guinea Bissau are the dark horses of this first round group.
Nigeria’s two other group games are vs Sudan (January 15) and vs Guinea Bissau (January 19), all at the Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua.
The opening match of the 24-team tournament will be on January 9, when hosts Cameroon do battle against Burkina Faso.
The final of the competition will be staged on February 6 in Yaounde.
