Izuchukwu OkosiThe 2024 Copa America draw was held in the early morning of Friday (late Thursday evening in South America) setting up the group stages for the summer tournament.
The tournament comprises of teams from South America and the CONCACAF region (North America).
FIFA World Cup winners Argentina, with captain Lionel Messi, are the favourites for another shot at the title albeit Brazil, Colombia and Mexico are capable of lifting the trophy.
Brazil’s group are considered the group of death as it contains teams of almost equal strengths with history in the tournament.
The USA have a young team and not most bookmakers’ choice for a place in the final.
However, the Yankees are expected to reach the latter stages with Folarin Balogun, the former Arsenal striker of Nigerian descent, expected to play a pivotal role in their run.
The playoff stages of the Caribbean qualification campaign will see Canada facing off against Trinidad and Tobago with the winner over two legged fixtures playing in Group A with Argentina, Peru and Chile.
Costa Rica will play against Honduras for a place in Group D where Brazil are the favourites in a pool that also container Colombia and Paraguay.
The 48th edition of the conmebol Copa America, will take place in the United States from June 20 to July 14, 2024.
The 14 stadiums located in 10 states throughout the East, Central, and West coasts will be decked up in the colours and branding of the latest iteration of the world’s oldest and most thrilling national team competition.
The 2024 CONMEBOL Copa America includes 16 participating teams; 10 from CONMEBOL and 6 from Concacaf as visitors, and 32 games spread across 25 days of the competition.
2024 Copa America Group Stage Draw
Group A: Argentina, Peru, Chile, Canada/Trinidad & Tobago
Group B: Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela, Jamaica
Group C: United States, Uruguay, Panama, Bolivia
Group D: Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Costa Rica/Honduras
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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