***As Super Eagles clash with Taifa Stars in Fes
By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
After failing to lift her fourth Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in the last edition of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) biggest continental tournament held in Cotè d’Ivoire despite reaching the final, Nigeria will be eager to banish the sad memories of the 1-2 defeat to the host by winning her Group C opening match against Tanzania on Tuesday in Fes, Morocco.
This is even as Nigeria’s inability to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals directly at the end of African qualifiers, has condemned the Super Eagles to win the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco in January as anything short of lifting the coveted trophy will be regarded as a failure.
Both countries will be meeting in the AFCON for the second time when they face off in Fes on Tuesday evening, 45 years after their first encounter at the continental tournament.
Nigeria and Tanzania’s only previous AFCON meeting came at the 1980 finals, when hosts Nigeria opened their campaign with a 3–1 victory over Tanzania in Lagos on 8 March 1980, going on to win their first continental title.
In all, the two teams have met seven times across all competitions, with Nigeria unbeaten, winning four matches, and drawing three.
However, their most recent encounters came during the qualifiers for the 2017 AFCON as both nations drew 0–0 in Dar es Salaam on September 5, 2015 before Nigeria won 1–0 in Uyo on September 3, 2016 although Egypt would qualify ahead of both teams.
Interestingly, the head-to-head records favour Nigeria as the West African powerhouse has won four, drawn three, scored 11 goals, conceded three goals, and has never lost to Tanzania while the Tanzanians have lost four times, drawn three and have not beaten Nigeria before.
Luckily, Nigeria’s third choice goalkeeper Amas Obasogie currently plays his club football in Tanzania for Singida Black Stars, where he is a teammate of two Taifa Stars’ players Hussein Masalinga and Khalid Iddi.
In fact, Nigeria enters the tournament with ambitions to fight for the title and under the Franco-Malian gaffer, Eric Chelle, the Super Eagles cruised through qualification and, despite a setback in a 2-1 loss in a friendly match against Egypt, they maintain a potent attacking force by scoring 13 goals in the team’s last six matches.
On Tuesday in Fez, Nigeria will parade a fearsome front three in Turkey-based striker Victor Osimhen who will be the focal point up front, supported by wingers Chukwueze and Lookman, both capable of breaking down any defence.
Unlike Tanzania, Nigeria has an illustrious history in AFCON as three-time champions (1980, 1994, 2013), will be appearing at their 21st AFCON finals during which the country finished as runners-up in 1984, 1988, 1990, 2000, and 2023.
Also, Nigeria has finished in the top three in 13 of her last 15 AFCON appearances and have reached at least the semi-finals in 13 of the country’s last 15 appearances since 1988 in Morocco.
Interestingly, in AFCON tournaments hosted in North Africa, Nigeria finished inside the top three in five of six appearances while the West Africans have an intimidating record of winning 13 matches, drawing two and losing just five in 20 AFCON opening games.
Also, Nigeria is unbeaten in her opening match at the last three tournaments and has lost just one of Super Eagles last 14 AFCON group games. Have scored in the last six AFCON group matches and lost just four of her last 25 AFCON matches overall.
Nigeria, which qualified undefeated for 2025 AFCON, winning four matches and drawing two will play her 105th AFCON match, the third-most in tournament history. Have scored 146 goals at AFCON, four short of 150.
Coached by Eric Chelle appointed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)
in January this year who led Mali to the quarter-finals at AFCON 2023, Super Eagles’ main concern remains their defensive inconsistency.
The team has conceded in five of their last six matches across all competitions, including their World Cup 2026 contentious playoff loss to Democratic Republic of Congo last month in Morocco.
Nevertheless, with their attacking style and clear squad advantage over Tanzania, Nigeria are the obvious favorites to win this clash as the country’s team is brimming with quality players who ply their trades in top leagues in Europe, especially in England, Spain, France, Germany and Asian countries too.
Led by new captain Wilfred Ndidi, Super Eagles have the immediate past African Footballer of the Year Ademola Lookman and his predecessor Victor Osimhen who were top scorers in qualifying series with two goals each.
Lastly, Nigeria boasts a clear edge in quality, experience, and squad depth. Even considering their shaky defense, Chelle’s team should win confidently, especially with such attacking power featuring Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham FC, England); Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey) and Simon Moses (Paris FC, France).
Other attackers in the 28-man team are Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain); Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain); Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor AS, Turkey); Cyriel Dessers (Panathinaikos FC, Greece) and Salim Fago Lawal (NK Istra 1961 (Croatia).
Nevertheless, for Tanzania, this is their fourth appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations and their second in a row. The Taifa Stars barely made it through qualifying, edging out Guinea in their group but overall showed modest form—scoring just 4 goals in 6 games.
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In the autumn, Tanzania lost four official matches in a row, including friendlies against Kuwait and Iran.
The Tanzanian squad is made up almost entirely of domestic league players, and against a powerhouse like Nigeria, the Taifa Stars look vulnerable. Their only hope lies in Samatta’s experience up front and their physical endurance, but even that may not be enough against one of the tournament’s strongest squads.
Defensively, Tanzania have conceded 8 goals in their last four matches, raising further concerns.
Probable lineups:
Nigeria: Uzoho, Ajayi, Onyemaechi, Bassey, Sanusi, Ndidi, Onyeka, Iwobi, Chukwueze, Lookman, Osimhen
Tanzania: Suleiman, Kapombe, Job, Hamad, Msindo, Salum, Msanga, M’Mombwa, Miroshi, Msuva, Samatta
The three-time champions take on the Taifa Stars of Tanzania tomorrow December 22 before further group phase encounters against Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles on December 27 and Uganda’s Cranes on December 30 respectively.
28 SUPER EAGLES FOR 35TH AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS MOROCCO 2025 AT A GLANCE
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus)
Defenders: Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Ryan Alebiosu (Blackburn Rovers, England)
Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Tochukwu Nnadi (Zulte Waregem, Belgium); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy); Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Pisa SC, Italy); Usman Muhammed (Ironi Tiberias, Israel)
Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham FC, England); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain); Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain); Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor AS, Turkey); Cyriel Dessers (Panathinaikos FC, Greece); Salim Fago Lawal (NK Istra 1961 (Croatia).
