Hosts Nigeria and arch-rivals Ghana will clash in the group stage of the African Women's Nations Cup after being placed together in Friday's draw for the competition in Cairo.

The Falcons and the Black Queens of Ghana are the top two sides in West Africa and arguably in the continent.

The two sides qualified for the last Fifa Women's World Cup in the United States after a confrontation in the final of the Nations Cup four years ago in Abeokuta.

Nigeria have been dominating African football for almost a decade and have had the upper hand over the Black Queens.

They retained the African title two years ago in South Africa, who were seeded in the other group for finishing as the runner-up in 2000.

The South African ladies, Banyana Banyana, may have avoided Ghana and Nigeria in the draw but their task not at all easy with the highest scoring side Zimbabwe, the much improved Cameroon, and newcomers Angola to play.

The Nigeria-Ghana group is complete with two other debutants, Mali and Ethiopia, who seemed to have been condemned for a baptism of fire.

The Nations Cup will take place from 7 to 21 December this year.

The two sides who reach the final will play in the Fifa Women's World Cup in China from 24 September to 11 October 2003.

Full draw and fixtures:

Group 1:

Nigeria, Ethiopia, Mali, Ghana

07/12/02: Nigeria v Ethiopia, Mali v Ghana
10/12/02: Ethiopia v Mali, Ghana v Nigeria
13/12/02: Ethiopia v Ghana, Nigeria v Mali

Group 2:

South Africa, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Angola

08/12/02: South Africa v Cameroon, Zimbabwe v Angola
11/12/02: Cameroon v Zimbabwe, Angola v South Africa
14/12/02: Cameroon v Angola, South Africa v Zimbabwe

Semi-finals:

17/12/02: Winner A v Runner-up B, Winner B v Runner-up A

Third-place Play-off

20/12/02: losers of semi-finals

Final:

21/12/02: winners of semi-finals