The Super Eagles of Nigeria will begin their quest for a fourth Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title with a Group C clash against Tanzania, a side they have not faced since 1980.
Nigeria head into the tournament seeking redemption after finishing runners-up at the last AFCON, where they surrendered a first-half lead and lost 2–1 to hosts Côte d’Ivoire in the final. The team is also looking to bounce back from recent disappointment in the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where a series of poor results ultimately ended their hopes of qualification.
Although the fixture appears favourable on paper, the Super Eagles will be wary, especially after suffering a narrow defeat to Egypt in a pre-tournament friendly. Head coach Eric Chelle is expected to rely on the quality and experience within his squad to set a strong tone from the opening match.
Tanzania, known as the Taifa Stars, are making their fifth AFCON appearance. They have exited at the group stage in their last four outings and will be aiming to make a stronger impression this time. The team is also building towards the next AFCON, which they will co-host alongside Uganda and Kenya.
However, Tanzania arrive in poor form, having failed to win any of their last seven matches, with two draws and five defeats, including a recent World Cup qualifying loss to Zambia. Key players such as Simon Msuva and Feisal Salum will be relied upon to trouble the Nigerian defence.
With stars like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Alex Iwobi in their ranks, Nigeria will be confident of making a positive start, but must guard against complacency.
Fixture Details
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Match: Nigeria vs Tanzania
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Competition: AFCON 2025 (Group C)
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Date: Tuesday, December 23, 2025
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Time: 6:30 p.m. (Nigerian time)
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Venue: Fez Stadium, Fes
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Live Broadcast: CAF TV
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