AFCON Qualifiers: Nigeria Drawn Against Benin, Libya, and Rwanda in Group D

Nigeria will face Benin, Libya, and Rwanda in Group D of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, as revealed during the draw ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Thursday.

The 2025 AFCON will take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, following CAF’s decision to adjust the tournament schedule to accommodate the congested FIFA calendar. This marks the first time in Nations Cup history that the tournament will commence in December and span over the Christmas and New Year periods.

The full draw for the 2025 AFCON qualifiers made in Johannesburg on Thursday is as follows:

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

Notes:

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

– Winners and runners-up qualify from each group except for the group containing Morocco. Morocco will participate to gain competitive match practice but qualify automatically as hosts, so only the best-placed team among the other three will secure a place.

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