The countdown to the 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has begun, and the Super Eagles now know their opponents for the group stage. The draw ceremony, which took place at the Mohamed V Theatre in Rabat on Monday evening, set the stage for an exciting tournament.
The three-time champions, Nigeria, will face Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania in Group C. The Super Eagles will kick off their campaign against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars.
Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Éric Sékou Chelle, expressed confidence ahead of the tournament, saying, “Nigeria has a strong squad of players across the globe, and we believe we are up to the task.”
Nigeria’s journey in the AFCON has been filled with exciting moments. The Eagles first hosted the tournament in 1980 and started their campaign with a 3-1 victory over Tanzania. They went on to win their first continental title. Two decades later, they faced Tunisia in the opening match of the 2000 tournament in Nigeria and Ghana, winning 4-2. They reached the final but lost to Cameroon in a penalty shootout.
In their most recent encounter with Tunisia, Nigeria was eliminated in the Round of 16 in Cameroon three years ago, after a narrow 1-0 defeat.
Uganda has always posed a challenge for Nigeria, with a memorable 2-1 loss at the 1978 AFCON in Ghana. However, Nigeria has also had its share of victories over Uganda, including winning the third-place match in 1978 after Tunisia abandoned the game in the 42nd minute.
Nigerian football legend Mutiu Adepoju, who won the AFCON title in 1994 and represented Nigeria at three FIFA World Cup finals, believes the current squad has what it takes to win the title again. He told thenff.com, “With the quality of players we have, their impressive performances at the last AFCON, and their success with their clubs in Europe, I’m confident that we have a team capable of winning the trophy for the fourth time in Morocco.”
Other groups feature exciting matchups: Hosts Morocco lead Group A, which also includes 2012 champions Zambia, 1972 runners-up Mali, and Comoros, making only their second AFCON appearance. Defending champions Côte d’Ivoire head Group F, facing five-time winners Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique. Group B sees seven-time champions Egypt up against South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe. Group D has 2021 winners Senegal battling two-time winners DR Congo, Benin Republic, and Botswana. Group E features 1990 and 2019 winners Algeria against Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, and Sudan.
With the AFCON just around the corner, all eyes are on the Super Eagles as they aim for their fourth title. Let’s go, Eagles!
