AFCON 2025 Qualifiers: Nigeria Grouped Alongside, Benin, 2 Other Countries, Full List Emerges
- Nigeria's Super Eagles have been drawn in Group D of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers
- The three-time African champions have drawn neighbours Benin Republic as well as two other opponents in an interesting group
- Already, Nigeria battled it out with Benin Republic in June in a world cup qualifying game when they were defeated by Gernot Rohr's side
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering sports and football in Nigeria and worldwide.
Rabat, Morocco - The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been grouped in Group D in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 qualifiers.
Legit.ng reports that three-time African champion, Nigeria will face Benin Republic, Rwanda, and Libya.
Source: Twitter
AFCON 2025 qualifiers: 1st and 2nd to qualify
The draw for the AFCON 2025 qualifiers was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Thursday, July 4.
Cote d'Ivoire are defending champions after defeating Nigeria 2-1 in the final of the continent's flagship sports competition in Abidjan earlier in 2024.
The Elephants were placed in Group G where they will play former champions Zambia; Sierra Leone and Chad.
Hosts Morocco were placed in Group B.
The Atlas Lions will take on Gabon, Central African Republic and Lesotho.
The qualifiers will start in September 2024 and end in November 2024.
The first and runners-up in the groups that do not involve tournament hosts Morocco, will qualify for the competition.
AFCON 2025 is scheduled to be held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
Check out the full list of the groups below:
Group A: Tunisia, Madagascar, Comoros, Gambia
Group B: Morocco, Gabon, Central Africa Republic, Lesotho
Group C: Egypt, Cape Verde, Mauritania, Botswana
Group D: Nigeria, Benin Libya, Rwanda
Group E: Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Liberia
Group F: Ghana, Angola, Sudan, Niger
Group G: Cote d'Ivoire, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Chad
Group H: DR Congo, Guinea, Tanzania, Ethiopia
Group I: Mali, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Eswatini
Group J: Cameroon, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe
Group K: South Africa, Uganda, Congo, South Sudan
Group L: Senegal, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Burundi
AFCON 2025: Experts tip Nigeria for qualification
Sharing his thoughts on the Super Eagles' chances of qualification, Francis Achi, an award-winning sports journalist and media officer of the national under-17 team, said other things being equal, the Super Eagles will qualify from the group.
He told Legit.ng:
"Ordinarily, Libya, Rwanda and Benin Republic should not really give the Super Eagles big stress, but when you remember that The Cheetahs of Benin defeated Super Eagles at the world cup qualifying game last month, there is a tendency to be worried if another complacency sets in from the Super Eagles.
"However, being grouped together with Benin Republic may be a great opportunity for the Super Eagles to redeem their image against The Cheetahs. On a good day, the Super Eagles should be able to beat The Cheetahs home and away."
Speaking further, Achi said by September when the 2025 AFCON qualifiers starts, a new coach must have been employed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the Super Eagles and "hopefully, the expatriate technical adviser will begin with positive results".
He added:
"Libya and Rwanda are not pushovers. Football is changing. No team should be underrated especially when it comes to home and away football matches on the African continent.
"Rwanda is topping the world cup group where Nigeria is second from the bottom. It is therefore very important to kick start the AFCON qualifiers on winning notes.
"I see the Super Eagles getting back their winning form from the AFCON qualifiers and translating same when the 2026 world cup qualifiers resume in March 2025."
Ruth Odunayo, a sportscaster, expressed a similar view.
The Mainland FM on-air-personality (OAP), told Legit.ng:
"Our chances are very bright if we decide to get things right.
"As of now, the Super Eagles do not have a coach neither has the NFF addressed some critical issues going on with the team. However, we can scale through because it is AFCON qualifiers. We seem to get result right when it comes to AFCON qualifiers.
"Looks like a repeat of the world cup qualifiers draw except for one change. Gernot Rohr will definitely worry us because he seems to know the team better than all those who took charge after him.
"If we can put our acts together, our players free from injuries, and the support of Nigerians, this should be very easy for us."
More to read on Super Eagles of Nigeria
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- ‘He housed him’: Oliseh names Super Eagles legend who 'sheltered, fed' Mikel before stardom
- Super Eagles coach: "Nigeria is our home", Sunday Oliseh opens up on role he is willing to play
Super Eagles' Osimhen told to apologise
In a piece of related news, Legit.ng reported that former international, Taiwo Oloyede, said Napoli of Italy and Super Eagles of Nigeria star striker, Victor Osimhen, must apologise to coach Finidi George.
Oloyede claimed that most of the current Super Eagles players were not loyal to Finidi.
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Source: Legit.ng
