Super Eagles face familiar foes in AFCON qualifiers

By Ekemini Samuel

Posted on July 4, 2024

Super Eagles of Nigeria strkier Victor Osimhen has promised the team will 'do their best to win' vs Guinea Bissau in their last group game of the 2023 AFCON.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been drawn into Group D for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, alongside Benin, Libya, and Rwanda. This development comes as the team struggles to gain momentum in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where they have recorded three draws and one loss, leaving them four points behind leaders Benin and Rwanda.

The Super Eagles have a strong record in AFCON, having qualified for every tournament since missing out in 2015 and 2017. They won the 2013 edition in South Africa and reached the final in the last AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, where they were defeated 2-1 by the hosts.

However, their recent performance in the World Cup qualifiers has been underwhelming, with their only defeat coming from a 2-1 comeback by Benin in Abidjan last month. This marked Benin’s first-ever senior win over Nigeria.

Despite this slow start, the Super Eagles are poised to redeem themselves in the AFCON qualifiers. With a talented squad and experienced coaching staff, they are determined to continue their strong tradition in the tournament and make up for their recent struggles.

The Group D fixtures will see Nigeria face off against familiar foes, including Benin and Rwanda, whom they will also face in the World Cup qualifiers. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the 2025 AFCON tournament, which will be hosted by Morocco.

The Super Eagles’ first match in the AFCON qualifiers will be against Benin, a team they have faced recently in the World Cup qualifiers. The match promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams seeking to assert their dominance.

The 2025 AFCON qualifiers will present another opportunity for Nigeria to regain their momentum and continue their strong tradition in the tournament. With a talented squad and experienced coaching staff, the Super Eagles are poised to overcome their recent setbacks and make a strong showing in the qualifiers. Will they be able to redeem themselves and bring glory to Nigerian football fans? Only time will tell.