By Korede James
Former captain Joseph Yobo has said qualifying from the group stages of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) would not be a problem for the Super Eagles, tipping the three-time champions to go all the way in Morocco.
Yobo made the statement after the AFCON 2025 draw in Rabat, Morocco, on Monday, for which he was an assistant.
The Super Eagles were drawn in Group C alongside 2004 champions Tunisia, and African Nations Championship (CHAN) co-hosts Uganda and Tanzania.
The last time the Super Eagles failed to go past the group stage of the AFCON was at the 1982 edition in Libya, while their last triumph was in 2013 in South Africa.
“We do have a very good team, the players are improving,” Yobo said when asked about Nigeria’s prospects.
“We have some of the best set of players in this generation and they showed that at the last AFCON. Looking at the group it’s never going to be easy for us but knowing the Super Eagles coming out of the group is never a problem.”
The AFCON 2013-winning captain posited that the Super Eagles have the players and also the coach to win the AFCON 2025.
“I hope that we start very well and we can take that momentum to the final,” he added. “We are building at our last performance at the AFCON 2023 and it’s about time we get our hands on the trophy again and I think we have the players and a wonderful new coach to do that.”
In Group A hosts Morocco will face Mali, Zambia and Comoros while Group B has Egypt, South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe.
Group D is made up of Senegal, DR Congo, Benin Republic and Botswana, and Group E has Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea and Sudan.
Also, champions Cote d’Ivoire will face Cameroon, Gabon and Mozambique in Group F.
The tournament will kick off on December 21, 2025 and end on January 18, 2026.
