The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been handed a decent group for the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco after being drawn alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania in Group C.
The Final Draw for the 35th edition of the continent’s foremost competition took place at the iconic Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat amid pomp and ceremony as the 24 teams were put into six groups of four teams each.
Pressed moments before the draw, Super Eagles’ Head Coach Éric Sékou Chelle said: “Nigeria have a good crop of players globally and we believe we are up to the task.”
The Draw conducted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Head of Competition and Events, Nigeria’s Samson Adamu, saw hosts-Morocco being put in Group A where they will play the tournament’s opener against Comoros on December 21 with Mali and Zambia completing the section.
Erstwhile national team skipper Joseph Yobo was one of the four Draw Assistants along with Morocco’s Mustapha Hadji, Aliou Cisse of Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire’s captain Serge Aurier.
Speaking specifically on Nigeria’s Group C ,Yobo who led the Super Eagles to their last AFCON title in 2013, believes the current squad can go one more step than they did the last time in Abidjan where they came second behind the hosts, the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire.
“We do have a very good team and the players are improving ; I don’t want to mention names but I think we have the best set of players in this generation and they showed that in the last AFCON (in Cote d’Ivoire) , so why not?” he asked rhetorically.
He added: “Looking at the group (Group C) is never going to be easy for us but we know the Nigerian team, the Super Eagles and we know coming out from the group has never been a problem.
“But I hope that we start very well and we can take that momentum to the finals.
“We are going to build on our last performance at the last AFCON and as I said, it’s about time we get our hands again on this amazing trophy because we a good set of players and a new wonderful coach (Eric Sekou Chelle) to do that.”
Meanwhile, drawn in Group B are perennial champions and seven-time record winners, the Pharaohs of Egypt who are in the same pool along with South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe.
Group D is delicately poised with former champions, Senegal and Democratic Republic of Congo housed with Republic of Benin now under the tutelage of former Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr as well as Botswana.
Group E houses the 2019 Champions, Algeria along with Burkina Faso who were finalist in 2013 when Nigeria last won the continental title as well as Equatorial Guinea and Sudan.
Group F on paper looks the most intriguing and tricky as current champions, the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire were drawn against Cameroon, Gabon and Mozambique.
The AFCON Morocco 2025 will hold between 21 December 2025 and 18 January 2026.
AFCON 2025 GROUPINGS
Group A: Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros
Group B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe
Group C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania
Group D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana
Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan
Group F: Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique
