The Super Eagles B-team were handed a difficult draw, ahead of the 8th edition of the African Nations Championships.
The draw which took place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, placed the Home Eagles in Group D with defending champions Senegal, Congo and Sudan.
The event which was formerly scheduled to hold in February, was recently postponed to commence in August, in a bid to ensure participating countries are well organized and prepared.
Nigeria who defeated arch-rivals and neighbors Ghana, 3-1 on aggregate to qualify for the tournament, are making a first appearance since their silver-winning run in 2018, hoping to finally get their hands on the much coveted trophy.
The Super Eagles who were seeded in Pot C, will face Senegal, who won the 2022 edition and are clear favorites to progress from the group, as well as Congo, who are featuring in the tournament for a fifth time. They will also do battle with Sudan, who achieved a best-ever finish by finishing third in 2011 and are hoping to build on their solid run in the competition.
The tournament is which is billed to take place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, will be the first to be hosted by three countries, with a significant increase of 75% on the winner’s prize amount.
The draw in full:
Group A: Kenya, Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, Zambia.
Group B: Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic.
Group C: Uganda, Niger, Guinea, Q2, Q1.
Group D: Senegal, Congo, Sudan, Nigeria.
The tournament will kick-off in August 2025, with a high profile game between host Kenya and 2018 champions, Morocco.
Shina Oludare is a distinguished sports journalist and managing editor, renowned for his comprehensive coverage of African football. His dedication to elevating African sports on the global stage has earned him widespread respect, along with numerous accolades for his contributions. A graduate of the LaLiga Business School in Madrid, Oludare’s passion for sports and his influential work in African football journalism have established him as a leading figure in the industry.
