Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been grouped in Group C of the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers following the draw that took place on Thursday evening in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
Nigeria have been grouped alongside South Africa, Benin Republic, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Lesotho.
The three-time African champions will be seeking to qualify for the 7th time with their first participation being in 1994.
The West African side missed out on the last World Cup which was staged last year in Qatar having lost to the Black Stars of Ghana in the playoffs.
Nigeria will qualify automatically for the biggest Football competition if they finish first from their group at the end of the group games.
The first round of games is slated to take place between November 13-21 but it is unknown when the Super Eagles will play their first match.
The 2026 World Cup will be a special edition as it will be the biggest competition in its history with 48 teams participating and it will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Full draw:
Group A: Egypt, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Djibouti
Group B: Senegal, Congo DR, Mauritania, Togo, Sudan, South Sudan
Group C: Nigeria, South Africa, Benin, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Lesotho
Group D: Cameroon, Cape Verde, Angola, Libya, Eswatini, Mauritius
Group E: Morocco, Zambia, Congo, Tanzania, Niger, Eritrea
Group F: Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Kenya, The Gambia, Burundi, Seychelles
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
