The Super Eagles have been drawn in the Group D of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
The draw, held on Thursday, July 4 in Johannesburg, featured 48 African nations who will contend for a place in next year's tournament.
Three-time AFCON champions Nigeria were drawn into the same group as Rwanda, Benin, and Libya. Interestingly, both Rwanda and Benin are in the Super Eagles' qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup.
Two out of the four nations in each group with the highest points will qualify for the tournament.
Next year's 35th edition will be hosted by Morocco, with qualifiers set to commence in September 2024.
In the previous edition held in Ivory Coast, Nigeria reached the final but lost to the host nation.
How have the Super Eagles fared against AFCON 2025 opponents?
The Super Eagles have faced the Cheetahs of Benin a total of 17 times, emerging victorious in 13 games, losing two, and drawing twice. Their first meeting was on 14 February 1977, when Nigeria defeated Benin 7-0 in a friendly.
Their most recent encounter was in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, where Benin defeated Nigeria 2-1 in Ivory Coast. The match took place on 10 June 2024.
With regards to Rwanda, Nigeria has faced them a total of five times, winning twice and drawing three times.
Their first meeting was in a FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifier, where Nigeria defeated Rwanda 2-0 on 5 June 2004. Their most recent encounter was a 0-0 stalemate played out on 15 January 2018.
Libya, on the other hand, has met the West Africans a total of five times. Nigeria has won four of these encounters, with the other ending in a draw.
Their first meeting was in an LG Cup clash played on 11 October 2024, which Nigeria lost 2-1. Their most recent encounter was a 3-2 victory for the Super Eagles in a 2019 AFCON qualifier, played on 16 October 2018.
