Super Eagles open AFCON 2025 campaign against Tanzania in Fez

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will begin their quest for a fourth Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, when they face Tanzania in their opening Group C fixture at the Fez Stadium, Morocco.

Kick-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Nigerian time.

This encounter marks the first time both nations will face each other since 1980, adding a nostalgic backdrop to a fixture that promises excitement and renewed ambition.

For Nigeria, the tournament presents a path to redemption on multiple fronts. The Eric Chelle–led side enters AFCON 2025 as runners-up of the last edition, where they surrendered an early lead and fell 2–1 to hosts Ivory Coast in the final — a painful loss that still lingers among fans and players alike.

Their World Cup qualification campaign further compounded that disappointment, as a series of poor results — including draws, narrow wins, and costly losses — saw them narrowly miss out on a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Despite progressing to the playoff stage through a revised CAF ranking of best second-placed teams, the Super Eagles were eventually eliminated by Congo DR on penalties after a tense extra-time battle.

Ahead of AFCON 2025, Nigeria’s preparations have been less than ideal, with a recent friendly loss to Egypt exposing defensive lapses and tactical inconsistencies. Nevertheless, the squad boasts an enviable mix of talent and experience led by Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Alex Iwobi, who are expected to spearhead the attack against Tanzania.

On the other hand, Tanzania’s Taifa Stars will be making their fifth AFCON appearance and are determined to improve on their past records, having exited at the group stage in each of their previous four appearances. The East African side, managed with a youthful energy and long-term vision, are also using this tournament to build momentum ahead of the next AFCON, which will be co-hosted by Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.

However, the Taifa Stars’ recent form has been poor. They are winless in their last seven matches, managing just two draws and suffering five defeats, including a 4–3 loss to Kuwait in a friendly and a World Cup qualifying defeat to Zambia. Their attack will depend heavily on Simon Msuva and Feisal Salum, who will look to exploit spaces in Nigeria’s backline.

Despite Nigeria’s status as heavy favourites, Chelle’s men will be cautious not to underestimate their opponents, especially given the unpredictability of early tournament fixtures.

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Match Details

Fixture: Nigeria vs Tanzania

Competition: AFCON 2025 (Group C)

Date: Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Time: 6:30 p.m. (Nigerian Time)

Venue: Fez Stadium, Morocco

Where to Watch: CAF TV