The stage is set for Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, opener against Tanzania on Tuesday evening.
The AFCON tie will take place in Fes, Morocco, at 6.30 pm Nigerian time.
The only previous AFCON clash between both nations came at the 1980 finals, when host country Nigeria opened their campaign with a 3-1 win over Tanzania in Lagos on 8 March 1980, as they went on to win the continental title.
Overall, the two teams have met seven times across all competitions in the past, with Nigeria unbeaten, winning four matches and drawing three.
The most recent fixtures between Nigeria and Tanzania came in qualifying for the 2017 AFCON, drawing 0–0 in Dar es Salaam, before the Super Eagles won 1-0 in Uyo.
Tanzania coach, Miguel Gamondi, has already revealed his strategy for his team’s opening match against Nigeria.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Monday, Gamondi said Tanzania will approach Nigeria with the mentality to play, try to get the ball and attack the three-time AFCON champions.
On his part, Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle is targeting a positive start at the 2025 AFCON after his team failed to secure a 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket.
Chelle reckoned that starting the competition with a win against Taifa Stars is very important for his team.
Similarly, Super Eagles top striker, Victor Osimhen, had urged his teammates to fight for every ball when they face Tanzania.
Osimhen also encouraged Chelle’s men to aim for redemption and victory in each match in Morocco while apologizing for the team’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
“This AFCON is an opportunity for us to do well and try to make sure that we win the tournament,” Osimhen said.
“We have to use this opportunity to say we are so sorry for not getting the World Cup ticket. We know the disappointment in the faces of Nigerian fans, it has happened, and we have to keep it going,” he said.
DAILY POST reports that the Super Eagles will aim to redeem themselves, having finished runner-up in the last edition of the AFCON in Ivory Coast and subsequently failing to secure next year’s World Cup ticket following their defeat to DR Congo in the qualifying playoff final.
Tanzania, on the other hand, hopes to finally get its first win against Nigeria in the AFCON tournament.
Speaking with DAILY POST ahead of the Tuesday clash, former TTC Football Academy coach, Emmanuel Brown gave his opinion on the encounter between Nigeria and Tanzania.
Brown tipped Chelle’s men to beat Tanzania, noting that it is important to start a competition by winning your first game.
“Well, I don’t expect the match to be 100 per cent easy for the Super Eagles because football in Africa is changing very fast, and there are no more small teams in football.
“A good example is the match between Comoros and Morocco. Nobody expected Comoros to hold the host nation, Morocco, that reached the semi-final of the last World Cup, to a 0-0 draw in the first half.
“This AFCON is their [Comoros’] second AFCON in their history. To be honest, they did well against Morocco even though they later lost 2-0.
“So, what I am saying in essence is that a small team can surprise a big team. So, Nigeria needs to be very careful against Tanzania and avoid complacency.
“It’s difficult to predict the outcome of the match between both teams, but I just have the feeling that Nigeria will come out on top.
“I see the Super Eagles like a wounded lion trying to redeem themselves after sadly not qualifying Nigeria for the World Cup.”