Former Nigerian international Victor Ikpeba has urged Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle to approach the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) group stage with caution after Nigeria was drawn alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania in Group C.
Speaking after the draw ceremony in Rabat, Morocco, Ikpeba stressed the importance of not underestimating any opponent, highlighting the rapid progress made by African teams in recent years.
The Super Eagles, who are among the favorites to win the tournament, will begin their campaign on December 22, 2025, against Tanzania at the Grand Stade de Marrakech.
Four days later, they will face Tunisia, a team that eliminated them in the Round of 16 at the 2021 AFCON. Nigeria will wrap up their group-stage matches on December 30 with a clash against Uganda at the Fez Stadium.
Ikpeba, a former AS Monaco star, expressed optimism about Nigeria’s chances of advancing but warned against complacency. He reminded the team of the surprises seen at previous AFCON tournaments, where smaller teams have risen to the occasion.
“I will take the Super Eagles group as against some of the other first round groups,” “It will be difficult because even the so-called small teams have made a lot of progress as we saw at the last AFCON. “But we have what it takes to get out of the group,” Ikpeba was quoted by Complete Sports.
Nigeria, three-time AFCON champions in 1980, 1994, and 2013, will be aiming to win the title for a fourth time. They also hope to build on their impressive run in the previous edition in Côte d’Ivoire, where they finished as runners-up.
The 2025 AFCON, scheduled to take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, will be hosted by Morocco. The North African nation, which finished fourth at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, is expected to deliver a world-class tournament that showcases the best of African football.
While the Super Eagles are considered one of the tournament favorites, the group-stage draw serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of African football.
With preparations underway, fans are eager to see if Eric Chelle’s team can rise to the challenge and deliver another historic AFCON triumph for Nigeria.
