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AFCON 2025: Nigeria draw Benin Republic, Rwanda again
The Super Eagles have been presented with an earlier opportunity to avenge their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying defeat to the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Abidjan in June.
This followed the pairing of both teams again in the same group in the race for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations that begins in two months’ time.
Their FIFA World Cup qualifying reverse fixture is not until the final day of the qualification series Oct. 6 to 14 2025.
Both teams have much earlier battles to fight later this year as they aim to be among the 24 countries that will participate in the Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for Morocco, Dec. 21, 2025 to Jan. 18, 2026.
At the draw ceremony conducted inside the SuperSport studio in Johannesburg, South Africa on Thursday, the Super Eagles also drew the Amavubi of Rwanda – another team in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying group.
Eagles will next play Rwanda in the series in March 2025 as well as the Mediterranean Knights of Libya. All four teams are in Group D.
The six-match qualifying series have been spread over the FIFA windows in September, October and November, with two matches in each seven-day window.
Group A: Tunisia, Madagascar, Comoros, The Gambia
Group B: Morocco, Gabon, Central African Republic, Lesotho
Group C: Egypt, Cape Verde, Mauritania, Botswana
Group D: Nigeria, Benin Republic, Libya, Rwanda
Group E: Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Liberia
Group F: Ghana, Angola, Sudan, Niger Republic
Group G: Cote d’Ivoire, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Chad
Group H: DR Congo, Guinea, Tanzania, Ethiopia
Group I: Mali, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Eswatini
Group J: Cameroon, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe
Group K: South Africa, Uganda, Congo, South Sudan
Group L: Senegal, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Burundi.
Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti has seen his side perform admirably domestically and in the Champions League. He led them to their 36th La Liga trophy while also preparing for a Champions League showdown with Borussia Dortmund after defying the odds and eliminating Pep Guardiola’s Man City.
Many players have been a revelation as they have been phenomenal. The blend of old and experienced players with young and agile players has been a perfect sync so far.
Amongst the players heralded for personal honours and with the Ballon d’or in view, fans and pundits have tipped Toni Kroos who is now 34 years for the Ballon d’or.
Ancelotti in a statement revealed that he will fancy the Germany international winning the coveted award, but it may not be possible. He said that if Kroos wins the Champions League and Euros 2024, he may have an opportunity to fight and win it.
In his statement (via @MadridXtra), Ancelotti said “Ballon d’Or for Kroos? Yes I would like it but he won’t win it. Or maybe…anything can happen.
“There is the Euro this summer, if he wins the Champions League and the Euro with Germany… he could fight for the Ballon d’Or.”
Kroos who bagged an assist in his side’s demolition of Alaves is hoping to win the champions league for the 6th time and came out of international retirement to lead his side to glory in the Euros 2024 on home soil.
Wrexham United goalkeeper, Arthur Okonkwo has been named in EFL League Two’s Team of the Season.
The 22-year-old goalie has kept 13 clean sheets in the league this season.
The Nigerian has started 34 of Wrexham’s 44 League Two fixtures.
The Arsenal-owned shot-stopper played a starring role in the Red Dragons wrapping up a top-three finish and back-to-back promotions.
Okonkwo will be available this summer as his contract at Arsenal is about to expire.
There is expected to be a massive scramble for his signature following his exploits with Wrexham.
Abia Warriors captain Augustine Njoku is optimistic of a good outing in the oriental derby clash with Rangers.
The highly anticipated Nigeria Premier Football League matchday 30 tie will take place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on Tuesday (today).
Rangers have lost just once in their last 10 league games.
Njoku, who said his side had prepared adequately for the game, boasted that they were unperturbed by Fidelis Ilechukwu’s side’s current form.
“I believe we can do better against Rangers in Enugu on Tuesday(today),” he stated to the club’s media.
“We have had a long training session during the week and we have prepared ourselves adequately for the game.
“We are not bothered about their current form as we respect any team we are playing against in the league.
“We will do our best to get a good result from the game.”
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