•As Cote d’Ivoire in titanic battle against Cameroon
Kingsley Abavo (Managing Editor) with Agency reports, Benin
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The draw for the 2025/26 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday, 27 January, 2025 held in Rabat, Morocco.
With the 24 teams for the biggest football event in Africa divided into six groups of four each.
As the Super Eagles of Nigeria, was lodged in group C alongside another football power house in Africa; Tunisia, including Uganda and Tanzania two of the co-hosts of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Stephen Keshi lifted by his assistant, Dan the Bull Amokachi and other mgt team members celebrating Afcon victory in South Africa, in year 2013
The Super Eagles will be aiming for the Afcon cup which they last won in South Africa under coach Stephen Keshi of blessed memory, in the year 2013.
This is as the host Morocco will lurk horns against Comoros in the opening game in group A, which also has Mali, Zambia.
In Group B, are three South African teams; Angola, Zimbabwe and South Africa alongside seven time champions Mo’ Salah’s Egypt.
While in group D, the Teranga Lions of Senegal will play DR Congo, Benin and Botswana, with the Zebras making just their second Africa Cup of Nations appearance.
Group E, has Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea and Sudan.
Meanwhile, Group F presents a titanic clash between rivals Cote d’Ivoire; who are the defending champions and Cameroon, just as Gabon and Mozambique.
The 24 team event, has been split into six first round groups with the winners and runners-up in each group, plus the best four third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout round of 16.
The final will be held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on 18 January, 2026.
At the event laced with glitz and glamour, the Moroccan legend Mustapha Hadji was among the celebrated footballing figures on hand to assist with the draw.
Alongside him was former Nottingham Forest and Tottenham defender Serge Aurier, twice an Afcon winner with Ivory Coast.
Also, Joseph Yobo, captain of Nigeria’s Afcon winning team in 2013, was on hand to pick out the teams.
As Senegal’s former Afcon-winning coach Aliou Cisse, who led the Teranga Lions to victory in 2021, also assisted with the draws.
Also in Rabat to witness the draws on Monday, was the new manager of the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle.
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: Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique
