Who: Nigeria vs Tanzania
Content: CAF Africa Cup of Nations
Location: Fez Stadium, Fez, Morocco
Date and time: Tuesday, December 23rd, 6:30pm (17:30 GMT)
How to follow: All content will be broadcast on Al Jazeera Sports from 14:30 GMT, ahead of the text commentary stream.
Nigeria’s much-touted golden generation was expected to take the country to new heights, but the Super Eagles are looking for answers after another disappointment in qualifying for the World Cup.
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After the heartbreak of missing out on a trip to North America in 2026, Nigeria arrives in Morocco in search of redemption and continental glory. The three-time champions will open AFCON 2025 against Group C opponents Tanzania, who have only played in the tournament three times.
Boasting world-class talents in Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, Nigeria are among the top contenders in a group that also includes Tunisia and Uganda.
Tuesday’s clash in Fes will mark the second time Nigeria and Tanzania will meet, 45 years after they first met in the continental championship.
Here’s what you need to know about the match.
Why did Nigeria miss out on qualifying for the 2026 World Cup?
Nigeria advanced to the playoffs in second place, the highest of the nine African qualifying groups, but lost 4-3 to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in a penalty shootout, failing to advance to the inter-confederation playoffs.
The Super Eagles, who have appeared in the World Cup six times, failed to qualify for the high-profile global event for the second year in a row.
A poor start to the qualifying campaign, a change of manager and salary issues were among the factors that led to the World Cup disappointment.
What happened after losing to DCR?
Last week, Nigeria filed a complaint with FIFA alleging that the Democratic Republic of Congo had played ineligible players in a play-off deciding match.
The Nigeria Football Federation announced that several dual-national players were allowed to play in the DRC without meeting the necessary criteria, but the DRC federation rejected the allegations.
Coach turnover rate in Tanzania
Controversy continues in Tanzania as well.
One month before AFCON 2025, the Tanzanian Football Federation sacked coach Hemed Suleiman and replaced him with Miguel Gamondi, who will serve as Taifa Stars’ interim manager for the tournament.
Former coach Suleiman led Tanzania to their fourth Nations Cup appearance and reached the quarter-finals of this year’s African Nations Championship. However, they were unable to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Who are the key players in Nigeria to watch?
Nigeria’s squad is packed with talent from all departments, with forward and former CAF Player of the Year Osimhen and Lookman heading the group.
Defender Calvin Bassey, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi and striker Samuel Chukwueze are also among the players to watch.
Who are the key players in Tanzania?
Mbwana Samatta, who plays for Ligue 1 side Le Havre, and fellow experienced forward Simon Musuba will headline the Tanzanian squad.
Musbah returned after missing the season in October and November and remains the team’s most capped member. He will reach his 100th international cap with his appearance on Tuesday.
Defender Mohamed Hussein is a formidable presence in Tanzania’s backline, while youngster Haji Mnoga, who plays for Salford City in England’s fourth tier, is also part of the squad.
form guide
All matches, latest results last:
Nigeria: LLWWW
Tanzania: LLLLD
direct confrontation
Nigeria and Tanzania have met seven times in all competitions, including the FIFA World Cup.
Nigeria won four of the matches and three ended in a draw.
The last time they faced each other was in 2016 at AFCON, where Nigeria won 1-0.
AFCON records
Nigeria has competed in AFCON 20 times, winning three times (most recently lifting the trophy in 2013) and finishing runners-up five times. Remarkably, they have finished in the top three in 13 of their last 15 AFCON appearances.
Tanzania have participated in AFCON three times but have never made it past the group stage. They are also one of only four teams to have never won an AFCON match this year, with six losses and three draws in nine AFCON matches overall.
AFCON 2025 is an epoch-making tournament in which Tanzania has reached the finals consecutively for the first time.
Nigeria team news
Nigeria will be without centre-back Benjamin Fredrick and full-back Ola Aina due to injury.
Regular captain William Troost-Ekong recently announced his retirement from international football and is currently absent, with Ndidi taking over as captain.
Strikers Victor Boniface and Tolu Arokodea were surprise omissions from the squad.
Nigeria’s predicted lineup
Nwabili (goalkeeper); Osai Samuel, Ajayi, Bassey, Sanusi. Chukwueze, Ndidi, Iwobi, Lookman. Adams Osimhen
Tanzania team news
New coach Gamondi has left experienced midfielder Mudatier Yahya out of the squad, but no other players are absent.
Tanzania’s expected lineup
Suleiman (goalkeeper); Kapombe, Hamad, Husseini, Musindo. Miloshi, Salm, and Job. Musbah, Muzize, Samatta
