Anticipation Builds, Nigeria’s Super Eagles Set to Discover AFCON 2025 Qualifying Rivals

The Super Eagles, finalists of AFCON 2023, have been placed in Pot 1 for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations draw, set to take place tonight in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) disclosed the draw format yesterday, anticipating the participation of 48 teams in the event.
According to CAF, Pot 1 will comprise the 12 highest-ranked nations based on the June FIFA Rankings. Nigeria, currently ranked fifth in Africa, will join other top-ranked teams including hosts Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Mali, South Africa, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Pot 1.
This classification ensures that Nigeria will avoid these formidable teams in the initial group-stage matches.

This draw arrangement holds significance for Nigeria, given recent encounters with some of these nations. Ghana denied Nigeria a spot in the 2022 World Cup, Côte d’Ivoire emerged victorious over Nigeria in the 2023 AFCON final, and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana pose a challenge in Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
The draw for the AFCON 2025 qualifiers will form 12 groups, labeled A to L, each consisting of four teams. The top two teams from each group, excluding the group containing hosts Morocco, will secure qualification for the tournament.
Scheduled from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, the AFCON 2025 finals promise to be a highly anticipated event in African football.