-Deborah Akinyosoye
The Nigeria Football Federation, on Tuesday, confirmed the dates and venues for the country’s senior men’s national team final two Group D matches for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification series against Rwanda and Benin, The NigeriaTodayTimes reports.
According to NFF, the Confederation of African Football has scheduled November 14 and 18 as the days for the two games.
The Super Eagles will travel to Abidjan for their Matchday 5 fixture against the Benin Republic, scheduled for Thursday, November 14, at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny.
This match will start at 8 pm Nigerian time (7 PM Ivorian time) and will be officiated by Senegalese officials, with Issa Sy named as the centre referee. He will be joined by Djibril Camara and Nouha Bangoura as assistant referees, while El Hadji Amadou Sy will serve as the fourth official. Ivorian Rene Williams Sere will be the commissioner while Angolan Inacio Manuel Candido will be the referee assessor.
The three-time Africa Champions will play their final game of the qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Monday, November 18.
The game, set to kick off at 5 PM Nigerian time, will be officiated by Moroccan referee Samir Guezzaz, who will be supported by assistants Zakaria Brinsi and Abdessamad Abertoune.
Kech Chaf Mustapha will serve as the fourth official, while Ghana’s Prosper Harrison Addo will take the role of match commissioner, and Somalia’s Ali Mohamed Ahmed will act as the referee assessor.
The Eagles currently top their Group D with 10 points from four games, four points ahead of second-placed Benin Republic, while Rwanda has five points. Bottom-placed Libya has only one point and is out of the running for qualification.
A win or draw against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Abidjan will secure the Super Eagles a ticket to the finals in Morocco, scheduled for December 2025/January 2026 with a game to spare.
The Eagles boycotted their last qualifier against Libya after suffering poor treatment where they had their flight diverted to another city and also held hostage at the Al-Abraq airport on the outskirts of Benghazi for almost 20 hours without food, water and internet facilities.