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South Africa will have to do it the hard way if they are to add to their sole Africa Cup of Nations title after the draw for the 2015 finals was made in Malabo on Wednesday night.
Bafana Bafana -- who won the trophy when they hosted it in 1996 but have experienced very little success since -- were drawn in Group C along with perennial title contenders Ghana, Senegal and Algeria for the tournament that runs from January 17 to February 8 in Equatorial Guinea.
Two of South Africa's rivals, Ghana and Algeria, were in the World Cup finals this year with the latter reaching the second round for the first time in their history and the Desert Foxes took eventual champions Germany to extra-time in their last 16 clash.
Host Equatorial Guinea got a relatively kind draw. They will open the tournament with a game against Congo and will also face Gabon -- with whom they co-hosted the 2012 finals -- and 2013 beaten finalists Burkina Faso.
Zambia, who won an emotionally charged 2012 final in Libreville, Gabon, will fancy their chances of making a serious bid for the crown after drawing Democratic Republic of Congo, Cape Verde and Tunisia in Group B.
