Nigeria’s senior men’s football team, the Super Eagles, begin their quest for continental glory today (Tuesday) when they take on Tanzania in their opening match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The three-time champions are drawn in Group C, alongside Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda. Nigeria’s campaign starts at the Complexe Sportif de Fès in Fez on 23 December.
The Super Eagles’ second group match will be against Tunisia on 27 December, before they conclude their group engagements against Uganda on 30 December.
Nigeria enters the competition as one of the favourites, having narrowly missed out on the 2023 AFCON title after a 2-1 defeat to hosts Côte d’Ivoire in the final.
The team qualified for the finals by topping their qualifying group, and coach Eric Chelle has selected a star-studded 28-man squad that includes forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.
Ahead of today’s opener, Chelle emphasised the need for focus and resilience. As reported by Reuters, the coach urged his players to “block out outside noise” and focus on their objectives at the tournament, following their disappointment at failing to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
Tanzania, making an appearance in a competitive AFCON group, enter the match with a growing profile, blending domestic talent and diaspora players in a bid to secure their first advance beyond the group stage.
Group C fixtures — AFCON 2025 (Morocco)
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- 23 Dec: Nigeria vs Tanzania — Group C opener in Fez
- 27 Dec: Nigeria vs Tunisia
- 30 Dec: Nigeria vs Uganda
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The top two teams in each group advance automatically to the round of 16, with four of the best third-placed sides also progressing to the knockout stages.
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