Eagles kick off AFCON 2017 campaign in June

NIGERIA'S Super Eagles will begin campaign to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from June 8 to 16 this year, according to the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The African champions failed to make the 2015 edition going on in Equatorial Guinea, two years after their victory in South Africa at the expense of the Stallions of Burkina Faso.

“The draws for the groups shall be done on 8 April 2015, in Cairo, immediately after the announcement of the host country of the 2017 edition,” a statement from CAF reads in part.

CAF also announced a change in the format of the qualifying series, with the host country participating in the qualifiers from the next edition.

“For the first time, the host country will participate in the qualifying stages; though the matches concerned will not be computed for points, they shall count as friendlies.”

The continental soccer-ruling body stated that the host country for the 2017 edition will be made public during their Ordinary General Assembly in Cairo on April 8.

Caption: Nigeria's Mikel Obi, one of the stars missing in the ongoing AFCON in Equatorial Guinea.