Benin Republic coach Gernot Rohr hopes to avoid Nigeria Super Eagles in AFCON 2025 draw

Benin Republic head coach Gernot Rohr has expressed his desire to steer clear of his former team, Nigeria, in the group stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as the final draw takes place tonight in Rabat, Morocco, Soccernet.football reports.

Rohr, who led the Super Eagles to their last FIFA World Cup appearance in 2018 and a bronze medal finish at the 2019 AFCON, will guide the Cheetahs of Benin at the tournament scheduled to hold in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

Speaking ahead of the highly anticipated draw, the 71-year-old German tactician said he would prefer to avoid another clash with Nigeria, with whom Benin already shared Group D in the AFCON qualifiers.

Both nations are also competing in the same FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification group. Benin are currently joint leaders in Group C alongside Rwanda and South Africa on seven points, while Nigeria are in fifth position with just three points.

“I came into Rabat since yesterday (Saturday), and we had a workshop today (Sunday) in the auditorium of the Moroccan Football Federation,” Rohr told NationSports. “I saw my good friend, Mr. Dayo Enebi (the Super Eagles’ administrator), and as you know, tomorrow (today) will be the Final Draw for 2025 AFCON. All the colleagues are here, and we are all waiting for the big draw.”

Nigeria, seeded in Pot One alongside hosts Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, and Côte d’Ivoire, are among the tournament’s top teams.

Meanwhile, Benin are placed in Pot Three, alongside sides like Gabon, Angola, and Zambia. There remains a slim chance both nations could be drawn into the same group.

“I hope we don’t have my Nigerian friends in our group,” Rohr said. “But we shall see at the end of the draw.”

Tonight’s draw will finalize the six groups of four teams, with the top two in each group and the four best third-placed teams advancing to the knockout stages.

Nigeria’s AFCON record is impressive, having failed to progress from the group stage only twice in 20 appearances. They have not exited at that stage since 1982, while winning the continental title thrice.