The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers draw took place in Morocco next year, as reported by Reelradio.com.ng.
Nigeria has been placed in Group D after the draw ceremony conducted by the Confederation of African Football. The Super Eagles were placed in Pot 1 ahead of the main draws, which took place on Thursday.
In Group D, the lineup includes Nigeria, Benin, Libya, and Rwanda. To progress to the AFCON finals, scheduled for December 2025, the first two teams from each group will advance.
In this familiar scenario, Nigeria is pitted against Benin and Rwanda in Group C for the qualifiers of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Benin and Rwanda currently top the qualifying group, each with seven points. They have both won two matches and drawn one in their opening four games.
Nigeria has had a slower start in the campaign, securing three draws and suffering one loss, which leaves them trailing by four points behind the leaders.
The Super Eagles’ only defeat in the campaign occurred when Benin staged a impressive 2-1 comeback in Abidjan last month. This victory marked Benin’s first-ever senior win over Nigeria.
Despite the somewhat slow start in the World Cup qualifiers, Nigeria maintains an impressive track record in AFCON. The Super Eagles have successfully qualified for every tournament since their absence in 2015 and 2017. Their victory in the 2013 edition in South Africa and their journey to the final in the last AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, where they were narrowly defeated 2-1 by the hosts, showcase their prowess in the competition.
As they gear up for the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, Nigeria faces a significant challenge as they strive to uphold their strong legacy in the tournament and compensate for their recent struggles in World Cup qualifying.
