AFCON 2025 Qualifying: Super Eagles of Nigeria drawn in Group D

• Nigeria's Super Eagles have been drawn into Group D for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, set to be held in Morocco next year.

The draw, organized by the Confederation of African Football, saw Nigeria placed in Pot 1, reflecting their status as one of the continent's top teams.

Group D will see Nigeria competing against Benin, Libya, and Rwanda. Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the AFCON finals, scheduled for December 2025.

Intriguingly, this draw mirrors the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where Nigeria also face Benin and Rwanda in Group C.

Currently, Benin and Rwanda lead their World Cup qualifying group, each with seven points from their first four matches.

Nigeria, however, have had a slow start, sitting four points behind after drawing three matches and losing one. The Super Eagles' sole defeat was a stunning 2-1 loss to Benin in Abidjan last month, marking Benin's first-ever victory over Nigeria at the senior level.

Despite these recent setbacks, Nigeria's track record in the AFCON remains strong.

The Super Eagles have qualified for every tournament since their absence in 2015 and 2017.

They triumphed in the 2013 edition held in South Africa and reached the final in the most recent AFCON in Côte d'Ivoire, where they narrowly lost 2-1 to the hosts.