AFCON 2025: Nigeria to Face Tunisia, Tanzania, Uganda in Group C

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will have another chance to lift the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco as they face Tunisia, Tanzania and Uganda in the group stage of the continental tournament.

The Nigerian team was drawn in Group C during the ceremony that was held in Morocco on Monday night.

The Super Eagles went all the way to the final of the last AFCON before losing 1-2 to the host, Cote d’Ivoire, in 2024. They now will be aiming to go one step better in the next tournament where they will be going for their fourth crown.

Though Nigeria and Tunisia are the more accomplished teams in Group C, the East African teams of Tanzania and Uganda present a tough challenge for the two automatic qualifying spots.

The host nation Morocco will lead Group A alongside Mali, Zambia, and Comoros.

The Group B is also packed with heavyweights consisting of Egypt, South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe who will have a lot to prove in the group.

In Group D, 2021 champions Senegal will battle it out with DR Congo, Benin, and Botswana, while Group E sees Algeria drawn against Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, and Sudan.

The defending champions, Ivory Coast will be hoping to outwit Cameroon, Gabon and Mozambique to kickstart the defence of the title they won at home last year.

The tournament, which will hold in December 2025 into January 2026, will be Nigeria’s chance to be continental champions since they last won it in 2013.

The tournament will be one task out of many for Nigeria’s Malian coach, Mr Eric Chelle, who was recently appointed to lead the Super Eagles, was present during Monday’s draw in Morocco.

Mr Chelle will be aiming to join Mr Otto Gloria (1980), Mr Clemens Westerhof (1994) and the late Stephen Keshi (2013), in the league of managers to win the AFCON trophy for Nigeria.

CAF president Patrick Motsepe from South Africa told reporters he believes the first AFCON to span two years will also be the most successful.

“I am extremely excited about the AFCON in Morocco — it is going to be the most successful yet. Ivory Coast raised the bar last year and now we must reach even greater heights.

Originally slated for mid-2025, the tournament had to be delayed because to avoid clashing with the maiden edition of the revamped FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.

“The new dates will not affect the tournament. Africa boasts many exceptionally talented footballers and all of them will be in Morocco,” added Mr Motsepe.