The current champions, Ivory Coast, will be optimistic about their chances of making it to the finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in Morocco.
On the other hand, Nigeria has been offered a potentially challenging group in the qualifying draw. As a result of the draw that took place in Johannesburg, the Super Eagles were matched with Benin, Rwanda, and Libya.
Last month, Benin, which is currently managed by Gernot Rohr, who was formerly the manager of Nigeria, defeated its neighbours by a score of 2-1 in a match that was part of the qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Finidi George resigned as coach of Nigeria after the team’s loss, and he later joined Rivers United, a domestic team. Although the Nigerian football organisation has not yet officially confirmed his departure, Nigeria is currently looking for a new manager to take over coaching duties.
After defeating Nigeria in the final of the postponed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), Ivory Coast earned their third continental title in February. They will now compete against Zambia, Sierra Leone, and Chad, who won the championship in 2012.
Emerse Fae, the coach of the Elephants, participated in the draw that took place in Johannesburg and appeared pleased with the results the draw produced.
“We played against Zambia for the last African Cup of Nations qualifying match, and we lost 3-0 away,” Fae said in an interview with BBC Sport Africa. “I know it will be a very difficult game but the fact we know them will help us to play against them and not make the same mistakes.”
“The most important thing for me is that we don’t have long trips,” he said in an interview with Caf TV after the draw was declared. We are going to have a nice time.”
The twelve groups of four have been formed from the forty-eight competing teams, and the top two teams from each group will advance to the finals, which will take place in Morocco.
Only one other side in their group, which also includes Gabon, Central African Republic, and Lesotho, will be able to purchase a ticket to North Africa because the hosts have already secured a spot in the event.
This year, the qualifying matches will be spread out across a total of six match days, which will take place in September, October, and November. “I prefer to play all the games in a short time,” Fae explained to me. Keep your attention on the task at hand.
We are fortunate to have the opportunity to compete on a monthly basis, and if we are successful in qualifying for the tournament, we will have plenty time to prepare for it.
Next year, on December 21st, the finals of the 2025 African Cup of Nations will begin, and the championship match will take place on January 18th, 2026.
Due to the timing, the finals are scheduled to take place between match rounds of the Uefa Champions League and will overlap with the festive programming of the Premier League.
For the very first time in the history of the Nations Cup, the tournament will begin in December and continue through the Christmas and New Year holiday season. This will be a completely unprecedented event.
AFCON 2025 QUALIFYING DRAW
GROUP A: Tunisia, Madagascar, Comoros, The Gambia.
GROUP B: Morocco, 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, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Chad.
GROUP H: DR Congo, Guinea, Tanzania, Ethiopia.
GROUP I: Mali, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Eswatini.
GROUP J: Cameroon, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe.
GROUP K: South Africa, Uganda, Congo, South Sudan.
GROUP L: Senegal, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Burundi.
