The draw ceremony for the 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will take place at the Mohamed V National Theatre in Rabat, Morocco, on Monday evening.
This highly anticipated event will determine the group stage matchups for the tournament, set to run from December 21, 2024, to January 18, 2025.
Three-time champions Nigeria have been seeded in Pot 1 alongside Africa’s football heavyweights, including seven-time winners Egypt, defending champions Côte d’Ivoire, two-time winners Algeria, 2021 champions Senegal, and hosts Morocco, who claimed their sole title in 1976.
The Nigerian contingent, led by Super Eagles’ Head Coach Éric Sékou Chelle, Team Administrator Dayo Enebi Achor, and NFF Technical Committee Chairman Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa, will be present at the prestigious ceremony.
This year’s tournament is historic as the first to span two calendar years. Morocco, hosting AFCON for the first time since 1988, has emerged as a major hub for African football, hosting key tournaments like the 2018 African Nations Championship and the 2022 Women’s AFCON.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles boast an impressive AFCON record, with 16 medals in 20 participations. They are three-time winners (1980, 1994, 2013), five-time runners-up, and have secured bronze on eight occasions. Nigeria also ranks fourth in total matches played at AFCON finals, with 104 games, behind Egypt (111), Côte d’Ivoire (106), and Ghana (105).
The Full Pots
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
The draw will feature four pots, with Pot 1 including the tournament’s top seeds. All eyes are on Rabat as the stage is set for Africa’s football spectacle.
