Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the dates and venues for the final two Group D matches of the senior men’s national team in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification series, set to be played against Rwanda and Benin.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has scheduled the matches for November 14 and 18, 2023.
The Super Eagles will first travel to Abidjan for their Matchday 5 fixture against the Benin Republic, occurring on Thursday, November 14, at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny.
This match is set to kick off at 8 PM Nigerian time (7 PM Ivorian time) and will be officiated by a team of Senegalese officials, led by centre referee Issa Sy, along with assistant referees Djibril Camara and Nouha Bangoura.
El Hadji Amadou Sy will serve as the fourth official, Ivorian Rene Williams Sere will be the commissioner, and Angolan Inacio Manuel Candido will act as the referee assessor.
The Super Eagles will then play their final qualifier match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Monday, November 18.
This match is scheduled to kick off at 5 PM Nigerian time and will be officiated by Moroccan referee Samir Guezzaz, with support from assistant referees Zakaria Brinsi and Abdessamad Abertoune.
Kech Chaf Mustapha will be the fourth official, while Ghana’s Prosper Harrison Addo will serve as the match commissioner, and Somalia’s Ali Mohamed Ahmed will take on the role of referee assessor.
Currently, the Super Eagles lead Group D with 10 points from four matches, four points ahead of second-placed Benin Republic, while Rwanda sits with five points. Libya remains at the bottom of the group, having only one point and is no longer in contention for qualification.
A win or draw against Benin in Abidjan will secure the Super Eagles a place in the finals, scheduled for December 2025/January 2026 in Morocco, with one game still left to play.
Super Eagles previously boycotted their qualifying match against Libya due to poor treatment, including a flight diversion and being held at the Al-Abraq airport on the outskirts of Benghazi for nearly 20 hours without access to food, water, or internet facilities.
