Nigeria will face Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania in the group stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. The draw was confirmed following a colourful ceremony at the Mohamed V Theatre in Rabat on Monday.
With the draw concluded, the Super Eagles now have just 11 months to prepare for the 35th AFCON finals, which are scheduled to take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The three-time AFCON champions have been placed in Group C, alongside Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles, the Cranes of Uganda, and the Taifa Stars of Tanzania.
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Nigeria will open their campaign with a match against Tanzania, a team they previously defeated 3-1 in the opening match of the 1980 AFCON, which they went on to win.
The Eagles’ history with their group opponents is rich. In 1980, Nigeria won their first continental title after defeating Tanzania. In 2000, Nigeria, as co-hosts with Ghana, triumphed over Tunisia in the tournament’s opening match, though they ultimately lost to Cameroon in a penalty shootout in the final.
However, the Carthage Eagles have been a stumbling block for the Super Eagles in recent tournaments. Tunisia eliminated Nigeria in the Round of 16 in the 2021 AFCON held in Cameroon with a 1-0 victory, ending Nigeria’s hopes of advancing further.
Uganda, too, has posed challenges for Nigeria in past competitions, including a memorable 2-1 win over the Super Eagles in the 1978 AFCON finals in Ghana, which led Nigeria to the third-place match. Nigeria eventually won that match after Tunisia abandoned it in the 42nd minute.
The full group draw for the 2025 AFCON is as follows:
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 Republic, Botswana
Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan
Group F: Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique
The tournament will be hosted by Morocco for the first time, with teams set to battle for continental glory starting in late 2025.
