Nigeria will face Benin, Libya and Rwanda in Group D of the qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON qualifiers) in Morocco as unveiled on Thursday at the draw ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The 2025 AFCON will be played from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026 following the decision of CAF to adjust the schedule of the tournament for the congested FIFA calendar.

It will be the first time in Nations Cup history that the tournament will kick off in December and run over the Christmas and New Year periods.

The full draw for 2025 AFCON qualifiers made in Johannesburg on Thursday:

Group A

Tunisia, Madagascar, Comoros, Gambia

Group B

Morocco (hosts), 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 (holders), Zambia, Sierra Leone, Chad

Group H

Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Tanzania, Ethiopia

Group I

Mali, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Eswatini

Group J

Cameroon, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe

Group K

South Africa, Uganda, Congo Brazzaville, South Sudan

Group L

Senegal, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Burundi

Dates

Sept 2-10: Matchdays 1, 2

Oct 7-15: Matchdays 3, 4

Nov 11-15: Matchdays 5, 6

— Liberia, Eswatini, South Sudan and Chad won preliminary ties; other 44 qualifiers received byes.

— Winners and runners-up qualify from each group except that containing Morocco, who will take part to gain competitive match practice. Morocco qualify automatically as hosts so only the best placed of the other three teams in their section will secure a place.

— Morocco will host Cup of Nations from Dec 21 2025 to Jan 18 2026.

AFP