By Efosa Taiwo

Super Eagles of Nigeria have been drawn in Group D of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers along with Benin Republic, Rwanda and Libya.

This follows a draw held in South Africa on Thursday to map out the road to Morocco in 2025.

The draw features 48 countries divided into 12 groups of four teams each, with the top two teams from eleven groups qualifying directly for the finals scheduled from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

The qualifying matches will be played over the FIFA windows of September, October, and November this year.

Nigeria in Group D of 2025 AFCON Qualifiers Draw

Draw for 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying competition, made in Johannesburg on Thursday:

Group A

Tunisia, Madagascar, Comoros, Gambia

Group B

Morocco (hosts), Gabon, Central African 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

Ivory Coast (holders), Zambia, Sierra Leone, Chad

Group H

Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Tanzania, Ethiopia

Group I

Mali, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Eswatini

Group J

Cameroon, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe

Group K

South Africa, Uganda, Congo Brazzaville, South Sudan

Group L

Senegal, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Burundi

Dates

Sept 2-10: Matchdays 1, 2

Oct 7-15: Matchdays 3, 4

Nov 11-15: Matchdays 5, 6

Liberia, Eswatini, South Sudan and Chad won preliminary ties; other 44 qualifiers received byes.

Winners and runners-up qualify from each group except that containing Morocco, who will take part to gain competitive match practice. Morocco qualify automatically as hosts so only the best placed of the other three teams in their section will secure a place.

Morocco will host Cup of Nations from Dec 21 2025 to Jan 18 2026.

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