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Super Eagles Await Group Stage Fate As AFCON Draw Holds In Morocco
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will learn their group-stage opponents today as the draw for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) takes center stage in Morocco.
The tournament, hosted by the North African nation for the second time since 1988, is set to be one of the most spectacular editions in AFCON history.
In 1988, the competition featured just eight teams, but this year, 24 nations will compete for Africa’s biggest football prize.
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Nigeria, placed in Pot 1, will avoid fellow top-seeded teams such as Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, and reigning champions Côte d’Ivoire in the group stage.
However, they could face challenging sides from Pot 2, including Cameroon, Mali, and Tunisia.
This year’s AFCON promises to be grander than ever before, featuring more teams than the 1988 edition, and a thrilling opening ceremony.
The ceremony will showcase some of the biggest names in African football history, with legends such as Egypt’s Essam El Hadary, Cameroon’s Patrick Mboma, Tunisia’s Aymen Mathlouthi, and Ivory Coast’s Gervinho set to grace the event.
Adding to the excitement, a musical extravaganza will take place, with performances from Morocco’s Hatim Ammor, Congolese sensation Maître Gims, and renowned Moroccan music producer RedOne.
Recall that on Saturday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled the official logo for AFCON 2025.
The design reflects Morocco’s rich cultural heritage, featuring the AFCON trophy adorned with zellige, the traditional Moroccan mosaic art, symbolizing the country’s unique blend of tradition and modernity.
The 24 qualified nations have been divided into four pots based on their FIFA rankings:
Pot 1: Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire
Pot 2: Cameroon, Mali, Tunisia, South Africa, DR Congo, Burkina Faso
Pot 3: Gabon, Angola, Zambia, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Benin
Pot 4: Mozambique, Comoros, Tanzania, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Botswana
The draw will place these teams into six groups of four, with the top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, advancing to the knockout stage, promising thrilling action throughout the tournament.
Egypt, the most successful nation in AFCON history with seven titles, will aim to extend its dominance.
Côte d’Ivoire, the defending champions, have lifted the trophy three times, while Cameroon boasts five titles. Nigeria, with three championships, and Algeria, with two, are also strong contenders.
Morocco, the hosts, will look to replicate their 1976 triumph, their only AFCON victory.
Back then, the tournament followed a unique format, with the top four teams from the group stage playing in a final round-robin.
Morocco emerged victorious in Ethiopia, but this time, they will aim to claim the title on home soil in front of their passionate fans.
Newly appointed Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has set his sights on winning the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, vowing to avenge Nigeria’s painful 2023 final defeat.
Nigeria fell 2-1 to hosts Ivory Coast in the last AFCON final, extending the nation’s wait for a fourth continental title.
However, Chelle, who took charge on January 7, believes his team is ready to go all the way this time.
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Speaking after the AFCON 2025 draw on Monday, where Nigeria was placed in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania, the Franco-Malian tactician expressed confidence in his squad’s ability to triumph.
“Yes, it’s going to be difficult to win because there are 24 very good teams and some very good coaches,” Chelle told CAF Media.
“I know I’ve got a team that’s out for revenge, and I’m out for revenge too, so we’re going to have a lot of fun. We know what this team is capable of, and our goal is clear—to lift the trophy in Morocco.”
Chelle, who previously led Mali to the quarter-finals of the 2023 AFCON before losing to Ivory Coast in extra time, is determined to bring his experience and tactical expertise to the Super Eagles.
The 2025 AFCON will be held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, across six Moroccan cities.
With Nigeria drawn in a challenging group, the road to glory won’t be easy, but the Super Eagles remain one of the tournament favorites.
Can Chelle lead Nigeria to their long-awaited fourth AFCON title? Fans will be eagerly watching.
Atalanta will be without Nigerian forward, Ademola Lookman for their crucial Champions League clash against Barcelona on Wednesday after the 27-year-old sustained a knee injury in training.
The Serie A club confirmed the news on Tuesday, revealing that Lookman had injured the lateral joint in his right knee and would not be traveling with the team to Spain.
Atalanta did not specify the exact length of Lookman’s absence, but reports from Italian media suggest he could be sidelined for up to a month.
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His absence comes as a significant blow to the team, as Lookman has been a key player this season, scoring 14 goals and providing six assists in all competitions.
Lookman was also instrumental in Atalanta’s Europa League success last season, netting a hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen.
His form has helped Atalanta remain competitive both domestically and in Europe, with the club still in the Serie A title race and aiming for direct qualification to the Champions League last 16.
Currently sitting in seventh place in the Champions League’s 36-club league phase, Atalanta faces a must-win situation against Barcelona, who have already secured their place in the knockout stages.
With a tight race for qualification, any result other than a victory will likely see Atalanta forced into a play-off spot.
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) draw held in Rabat, Morocco, on Monday, has set the stage for an exciting football spectacle.
The tournament, scheduled to kick off on December 21, will see 24 teams battle for continental glory, with intriguing matchups promising thrilling action.
Morocco, the tournament hosts and one of Africa’s strongest teams, will begin their quest for the title against Comoros in Group A.
They are joined by Mali and Zambia, completing a group filled with potential surprises.
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Morocco, armed with Europe-based stars like Achraf Hakimi, will aim to become only the fourth AFCON host to win the title this century, following Tunisia (2004), Egypt (2006), and Ivory Coast (2024).
CAF president Patrick Motsepe expressed optimism about the tournament, calling it the “most successful AFCON yet.”
He praised Morocco’s preparations and highlighted the significance of hosting the AFCON as a stepping stone for the kingdom’s 2030 World Cup ambitions, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Originally planned for mid-2025, the tournament was rescheduled to avoid clashing with FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup in the United States.
Despite the change, excitement remains high as Africa’s best footballers converge on Morocco to vie for the continent’s top prize.
Group Stage Draw:
Group A: Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros
Group B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe
Group C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania
Group D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana
Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan
Group F: Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique
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