Who: Nigeria vs Tanzania
What: CAF Africa Cup of Nations
The place: Fez Stadium in Fez, Morocco
When: Tuesday, December 23, at 6:30pm (17:30 GMT)
How you can comply with: We’ll have all of the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 14:30 GMT prematurely of our textual content commentary stream.
Nigeria’s much-celebrated golden technology was anticipated to propel the nation to new heights, however one other World Cup qualification disappointment has left the Tremendous Eagles looking for solutions.
Beneficial Tales
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After the heartbreak of lacking out on a visit to North America in 2026, Nigeria arrive in Morocco seeking redemption and continental glory. The three-time champions open their AFCON 2025 marketing campaign towards Group C opponents Tanzania, who’ve appeared on the event simply thrice.
Boasting world-class expertise in Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, Nigeria are among the many favourites to high the group that additionally options Tunisia and Uganda.
Tuesday’s face-off in Fez pits collectively Nigeria and Tanzania for under the second time on the continental championships, 45 years after their first assembly on the competitors.
Right here’s all you might want to know concerning the match:
Why did Nigeria fail to qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
Nigeria had been among the many finest runners-up throughout the 9 African qualifying teams who superior to the playoffs, however misplaced 4-3 on penalties to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), failing to succeed in the inter-confederation playoffs.
The Tremendous Eagles, who’ve made six World Cup appearances, have now didn’t qualify for the worldwide showpiece occasion for the second time in a row.
A poor begin to their qualifying marketing campaign, managerial adjustments and a pay dispute had been among the many elements that led to their World Cup disappointment.
What occurred after the loss to DCR?
Final week, Nigeria submitted a petition to FIFA alleging DRC fielded ineligible gamers in that decisive playoff match.
The Nigerian soccer federation stated a number of dual-nationality gamers had been cleared to play for DRC with out assembly the required standards, however DRC’s federation rejected the allegations.
Teaching turnover for Tanzania
There isn’t a dearth of controversy in Tanzania, too.
Tanzania’s soccer federation fired its coach, Hemed Suleiman, only a month earlier than AFCON 2025, changing him with Miguel Gamondi, who will take interim cost of the Taifa Stars for the competitors.
Former coach Suleiman led Tanzania to their fourth Cup of Nations look and reached the quarterfinals of the African Nations Championships this 12 months. However they didn’t safe a spot within the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Who’re Nigeria’s key gamers to look at?
Nigeria’s squad is full of expertise in all departments, with forwards and former CAF Participant of the Yr award winners Osimhen and Lookman headlining the group.
Defender Calvin Bassey, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, together with striker Samuel Chukwueze, are the opposite high-profile gamers.
Who’re Tanzania’s key gamers?
Mbwana Samatta, who performs for Ligue 1 membership Le Havre, and fellow skilled ahead Simon Msuva headline Tanzania’s squad.
Msuva returns after lacking the October and November home windows and stays essentially the most capped member of the squad. An look on Tuesday will mark his one centesimal worldwide cap.
Defender Mohamed Hussein is a formidable presence in Tanzania’s backline, whereas teenager Haji Mnoga, who performs for Salford Metropolis within the English fourth tier, can also be a part of the squad.
Kind information
All matches, most up-to-date end result final:
Nigeria: L-L-W-W-W
Tanzania: L-L-L-L-D
Head-to-head
Nigeria and Tanzania have met seven occasions throughout all competitions, together with on the FIFA World Cup.
Nigeria have received 4 of these matches, whereas three led to a draw.
Their final assembly was in 2016 at AFCON, the place Nigeria received 1-0.
AFCON data
Nigeria have performed at AFCON 20 occasions, ending winners on three events – most lately lifting the trophy in 2013 – and runners-up 5 occasions. Remarkably, they’ve completed within the high three in 13 of their final 15 AFCON appearances.
Tanzania have by no means made it previous the group stage of their three AFCON appearances. They’re additionally one in every of solely 4 groups at this 12 months’s version which have by no means received an AFCON match, with six defeats and three attracts of their 9 AFCON matches total.
The AFCON 2025 is a landmark event for Tanzania, as they’ve certified for successive finals for the primary time.
Nigeria group information
Nigeria might be with out centre-back Benjamin Fredrick and full-back Ola Aina, who’re each injured.
William Troost-Ekong, the common captain, is unavailable after lately asserting his retirement from worldwide soccer, with Ndidi now taking on the captaincy.
Strikers Victor Boniface and Tolu Arokodare had been the shock omissions from the squad.
Nigeria’s predicted lineup
Nwabili (Goalkeeper); Osayi-Samuel, Ajayi, Bassey, Sanusi; Chukwueze, Ndidi, Iwobi, Lookman; Osimhen, Adams
Tanzania group information
New coach Gamondi dropped skilled midfielder Mudathir Yahya from the squad, however aside from that, there aren’t any absentees.
Tanzania’s predicted lineup
Suleiman (Goalkeeper); Kapombe, Hamad, Husseini, Msindo; Miroshi, Salum, Job; Msuva, Mzize, Samatta
