Nigeria has clinched qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Morocco with two matches to spare.
The Super Eagles were set to face Benin Republic in Abidjan on Thursday, needing only to avoid a loss to guarantee their place at next year’s continental competition.
However, even before they took to the pitch, Nigeria’s qualification was confirmed following Rwanda’s unexpected 1-0 defeat to Libya at the Stade Amahoro in Kigali, effectively sealing the Super Eagles’ spot in the 35th edition of AFCON
With five matches played and five points secured, Rwanda is positioned third in Group D, trailing Nigeria and Benin.
Despite an upcoming fixture against Nigeria’s Super Eagles in Uyo on Monday, Rwanda’s maximum attainable points would still fall short of Nigeria’s current tally of ten, thereby ensuring Nigeria’s qualification.
Nigeria becomes the 11th nation to secure a spot in the Morocco 2025 tournament, alongside hosts Morocco, Burkina Faso, Algeria, DR Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Equatorial Guinea, Egypt, Cameroon, and Angola.
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is set to occur from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, with Nigeria seeking to improve upon their second-place finish in the last tournament, which concluded earlier in the year against Cote d’Ivoire
