Cameroon are expected to face a tough battle against South Africa after they were paired together in Group M of the 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifiers. Holders Ivory Coast will play in Group I against Sierra Leone, Sudan and Gabon, who have already secured a place in the finals as hosts but still compete in the qualifiers. Ghana, who lost to the Ivorians in a dramatic penalty shootout in the 2015 final in Bata in February, were placed in Group H with modest opposition in the form of Mauritius, Mozambique and Rwanda. A record total of 52 countries entered the preliminaries. Only Eritrea and Somalia are absent. Zimbabwe, banned from competing in the 2018 World Cup preliminaries, are entered for the Nations Cup and compete in Group L with Guinea, Malawi and Swaziland. (For more sports news andupdates, followAhramOnlineSportson Twitter at@AO_Sportsand onFacebookatAhramOnlineSports.) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/127226.aspx