Once more, here is proof that our worst fears are often unnecessary: Nigeria have been drawn into arguably one of the easiest groups at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations billed for South Africa next January.

In the draws just made in Durban, South Africa, by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Nigeria were drawn in Group C alongside defending champions Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia.

Though it is said that there are no more minnows in African football, none of the teams in the group psychologically overawes Nigeria.

Prior to the draws, Nigerian soccer fans had been conjuring up worst case scenarios of the Super Eagles possibly being drawn in the same group with the Elephants of Ivory Coast or the Black Stars of Ghana but Big Boss Stephen Keshi made it clear that he wasn’t losing sleep over the Eagles’ first round opponents at the next “African World Cup.”

Sixteen teams will be squaring it off at the group stages, with two advancing from each group. Nigeria and Zambia are favourites to advance from Group C. The groupings are as follows:

Group A: S Africa, Cape Verde, Morocco, Angola

Group B: Ghana, DR Congo, Niger, Mali

Group C: Zambia, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Nigeria

Group D: Ivory Coast, Algeria, Tunisia, Togo

*Photo: The Super Eagles of Nigeria are favoured by the draws.