The stage is set for the Draw Ceremony of the 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals, scheduled to take place at the Mohamed V National Theatre in Rabat, Morocco, on Monday evening.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles, three-time African champions, have been seeded in Pot 1 alongside some of the continent’s heavyweights, including seven-time winners Egypt, defending champions Cote d’Ivoire, two-time winners Algeria, 2021 champions Senegal, and hosts Morocco, who won the tournament in 1976.
Representing Nigeria at the event will be Head Coach Éric Sékou Chelle, Team Administrator Dayo Enebi Achor, and the Chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa.
The tournament, set to begin on December 21, 2025, and conclude on January 18, 2026, is unique in its scheduling, marking the first AFCON to span two calendar years.
It also marks Morocco’s return as host of the competition since 1988, when Cameroon emerged champions.
Morocco’s hosting credentials have grown significantly in recent years, having organized and excelled in various tournaments, including winning the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in 2018, finishing as runners-up in the Women’s AFCON in 2022, and hosting the FIFA Club World Cup in 2023.
The country is also set to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
The Super Eagles hold an illustrious record in AFCON history, boasting the highest number of medals (16) across 20 previous participations.
They have won the championship three times (1980, 1994, and 2013), finished as runners-up five times, and claimed bronze medals on eight occasions.
Nigeria has also played 104 matches in the tournament, ranking fourth overall behind Egypt (111), Cote d’Ivoire (106), and Ghana (105).
The participating teams have been divided into four pots based on their rankings:
Pot 1: Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire
Pot 2: Cameroon, Mali, Tunisia, South Africa, DR Congo, Burkina Faso
Pot 3: Gabon, Angola, Zambia, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Benin Republic
Pot 4: Mozambique, Comoros, Tanzania, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Botswana
Debutants Botswana and Comoros are among the teams making their second appearances, while seasoned participants like Egypt (27th tournament) and Cameroon (22nd) will be looking to add to their legacies.
As fans across Africa await the group stage draw, the excitement builds for what promises to be a historic and competitive tournament in Morocco.