The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been drawn alongside South Africa, Benin, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Lesotho in group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification round.
The draw ceremony was held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on Thursday.
The World Cup qualifiers will see the resumption of the rivalry between Nigeria and South Africa.
The two nations have played each other 14 times, with the Eagles winning seven and securing two draws.
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The last time Nigeria faced the Bafana Bafana in a World Cup qualification round was before the 2010 edition.
The Eagles won both legs of the encounter, but South Africa qualified for the competition regardless as the host.
Senegal, African champions, were drawn in group B alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo, Togo, Mauritania, Sudan and Southern Sudan, while Morroco secured group E to face Zambia, Tanzania, Congo Brazzaville, Niger and Eritrea.
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Ghana are in group I alongside Mali, Madagascar, the Central African Republic, Comoros and Chad.
The @CAF_online draw results are here! 🔥
🤩 Africa is on the road to #WeAre26!
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 13, 2023
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In 2017, FIFA increased African slots at the World Cup to nine automatic tickets.
A tenth African country will participate in a six-nation playoff tournament to decide the last spot.
The winners of the nine groups in the qualification round will automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup, billed to be jointly hosted by US, Canada and Mexico.
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The four best runners-up from the groups will play in a CAF playoff tournament.
The winner of the CAF playoff championship will play in the FIFA playoff tournament.
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FULL DRAW
Group A: Egypt, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Djibouti
Group B: Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Togo, Mauritania, Sudan and Southern Sudan
Group C: Nigeria, South Africa, Benin Republic, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Lesotho
Group D: Cameroon, Cape Verde, Angola, Libya, Eswatini and Mauritius
Group E: Morroco, Zambia, Tanzania, Congo Brazzaville, Niger and Eritrea.
Group F: Ivory Coast, Gabon, Kenya, The Gambia, Burundi, Seychelles
Group G: Algeria, Guinea, Uganda, Mozambique, Botswana, Somalia
Group H: Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea, Namibia, Malawi, Liberia, Sao Tome e Principe
Group I: Ghana, Mali, Madagascar, the Central African Republic, Comoros and Chad.
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