Eagles eye revenge against Benin as CAF draws AFCON 2025 qualification groups

Super Eagles of Nigeria have been drawn in Group D for the qualification series of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The AFCON draw was held in Johannesburg, South Africa on Thursday.

The Eagles have been drawn alongside the Benin Republic — the team had just dealt Nigeria a shocking defeat in the ongoing qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Libya and Rwanda are the other nations that the Eagles will face in Group D.

Cote d’Ivoire, the defending champions, are pitted against Sierra Leone, Chad and Zambia in Group G, while Senegal are in Group L with Burkina Faso, Malawi and Burundi.

The two best teams in each group are the only ones guaranteed a slot at the 35th AFCON, which will be held in Morroco next year.

The completion will be played between December 21, 2025, and January 18, 2026.

Morocco, the hosts, are guaranteed a place in the tournament. 

Full list of group pairings for the 2025 AFCON qualifiers:

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