The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially confirmed the dates for Nigeria’s final two matches in the qualifying rounds for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Nigerian team, also known as the Super Eagles, will play against Benin on November 14, followed by their match with Rwanda on November 18.
Both games are critical for Nigeria as they aim to secure a spot in the upcoming AFCON tournament, which will be held in Morocco from December 2025 to January 2026.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) provided detailed information about the games. The Super Eagles will first face the Republic of Benin on November 14 at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny.
This encounter, labeled as the Matchday 5 qualifier, is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Nigeria time.
CAF has appointed Senegalese officials to oversee this match, led by Issa Sy as the head referee. Assisting Sy will be Djibril Camara, Nouha Bangoura, and El Hadji Amadou Sy, who will fill the roles of assistant referees and fourth official, respectively.
Cote d’Ivoire’s Rene Williams Sere has been designated as the match commissioner, while the referee assessor will be Inacio Manuel Candido from Angola.
Four days later, on November 18, Nigeria will play its last qualifying match against Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. This Matchday 6 game is set for a 5 p.m. kickoff, bringing a different set of CAF-appointed officials.
Leading this match will be Moroccan referee Samir Guezzaz, supported by assistant referees Zakaria Brinsi and Abdessamad Abertoune, along with fourth official Kech Chaf Mustapha.
Ghanaian official Prosper Harrison Addo has been appointed as the commissioner, while Somalian Ali Mohamed Ahmed will act as the referee assessor.
These two matches carry significant weight for Nigeria’s ambitions, as they will determine whether the Super Eagles advance to the 35th edition of the AFCON tournament.
The team currently holds a competitive position within Group D but must perform well in these games to secure one of the sought-after spots in the tournament.
