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Reigning champions Ivory Coast will be confident of reaching the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco but Nigeria have been handed a potentially tricky group in the qualifying draw.<\/b><\/p>\n
The draw in Johannesburg saw the Super Eagles paired with Benin, Rwanda and Libya.<\/p>\n
Benin, now coached by former Nigeria boss Gernot Rohr, beat their neighbours 2-1<\/a> last month when the teams met in qualifying for the 2026 Fifa World Cup.<\/p>\n Nigeria are seeking a new manager after Finidi George resigned as coach following that defeat and subsequently joined domestic side Rivers United – although the country’s football federation is yet to officially confirm his departure.<\/p>\n Ivory Coast, who won their third continental title in February<\/a> when they beat Nigeria in the final of the delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), will face 2012 champions Zambia, Sierra Leone and Chad.<\/p>\n Elephants coach Emerse Fae helped to conduct the draw in Johannesburg and appeared content with the outcome.<\/p>\n “We played against Zambia for the last Afcon qualifying and we lost 3-0 away,” Fae told BBC Sport Africa.<\/p>\n “I know it will be a very difficult game but the fact we know them will help us to play against them and not make the same mistakes.”<\/p>\n Speaking to Caf TV after the draw, he added: “The most important [thing] for me is we don’t have long trips. It’s going to be good.”<\/p>\n