35th AFCON: Nigeria up against Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania

Posted : 28 January 2025

Approximately eleven months away from the 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals, the Super Eagles already know their group-phase opponents, following a colorful draw ceremony at the Mohamed V Theatre in Rabat on Monday evening.

The three-time champions must navigate through Group C, which also includes Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles, the Cranes of Uganda, and the Taifa Stars of Tanzania. The Eagles will open their campaign by facing the Taifa Stars.

Before the ceremony, Super Eagles Head Coach Éric Sékou Chelle told the world, “Nigeria has a good crop of players globally, and we believe we are up to the task.”

As hosts of the AFCON for the first time ever in 1980, the Eagles battled the Taifa Stars in the tournament's opening match, featuring their highly-rated team captain Leodegar Tenga and the enigmatic goalkeeper Jona Pondamali. Nigeria won 3-1 and went on to claim their first continental title.

Twenty years later, as co-hosts (with Ghana), Nigeria played Tunisia in their first match of the tournament, defeating the Carthage Eagles 4-2 in Lagos. The Eagles made it all the way to the Final, where they lost to Cameroon only after a penalty shootout.

The Carthage Eagles narrowly defeated the Super Eagles 1-0 in the Round of 16 at the finals in Cameroon three years ago, ending the impressive run of the three-time champions.

Uganda has always been a tough opponent for Nigeria, including a 2-1 win over the Eagles at the 1978 finals in Ghana, which condemned Nigeria to the third-place match. Nigeria won that third-place match after Tunisia abandoned the game in the 42nd minute.

Nigeria legend Mutiu Adepoju, who won the AFCON trophy in 1994 and represented Nigeria in three FIFA World Cup finals, told thenff.com on Monday night: “Given the level of our players, their performance at the last AFCON where they came close to winning the trophy, and the great things they are doing with their various clubs in Europe, I am confident that we have a team that can compete favorably and perhaps win the trophy for the fourth time in Morocco.”

Hosts and 1976 winners Morocco head Group A, which also includes 2012 champions Zambia, 1972 runners-up Mali, and Comoros, who will be participating in only their second championship.

Cup holders Côte d'Ivoire head Group F and must navigate a tricky pool that also includes five-time champions Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique, while seven-time winners Egypt are in a tough battle with 1996 hosts and champions South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe in Group B.

2021 winners Senegal are pitted against two-time winners the Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin Republic, and Botswana in Group D, while 1990 and 2019 winners Algeria will face Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, and Sudan in Group E.

GROUP A: Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros
GROUP B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe
GROUP C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania
GROUP D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin Republic, Botswana
GROUP E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan
GROUP F: Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique

35th AFCON: Nigeria up against Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania

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