Nigeria’s Super Eagles have arrived in Morocco and are primed to challenge for a fourth continental crown as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicks off on Sunday.
Nigeria, three-time African champions and winners on home soil in 1980, in Tunisia in 1994, and in South Africa in 2013, the Super Eagles will open their campaign against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars on Tuesday in the historic city of Fès.
The tournament carries added significance as Nigeria looks to lift spirits at home and in the diaspora following their failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ndidi Takes Captain’s Armband
The retirement of William Troost-Ekong on the eve of the team’s departure to Cairo for their final training camp has opened the door for midfielder Wilfred Ndidi to assume the captain’s armband. Experienced campaigners Simon Moses and Alex Iwobi, alongside prolific forward Victor Osimhen, are expected to serve as vice-captains.
Read Also: AFCON 2025: Eric Chelle names final 28-man Super Eagles squad
Opening Ceremony Sets the Stage in Rabat
The tournament’s opening ceremony on Sunday at the iconic Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, featuring globally acclaimed Nigerian singer Davido, will precede the opening match between hosts Morocco and Comoros. The Atlas Lions will be eager to extend their impressive recent run in international football.
Group C Test Begins With Tanzania
Nigeria won its maiden AFCON title 45 years ago after defeating Tanzania in its opening match and will be targeting a strong start to maintain momentum ahead of tougher Group C fixtures against Tunisia on Saturday, 27 December, and Uganda on Tuesday, 30 December.
Chelle Embraces Weight of Expectations
Head coach Éric Chelle underlined the demands of the role in comments to CAFOnline.com last month. “When you coach Nigeria, you have to win everything,” he said, an expectation heightened by the disappointment of missing out on the World Cup.
Group C Oppositions: Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda
Tanzania, coached by Nigeria legend and 1994 AFCON winner Emmanuel Amuneke, is making only their fourth appearance at the finals and a second consecutive outing following their participation in Côte d’Ivoire. They have played nine AFCON matches overall, drawing three and losing six, and are still seeking their first win at the tournament.
Tunisia are appearing at their 17th consecutive AFCON finals and have featured 21 times overall, one more than Nigeria.
Their only triumph came on home soil in 2004, when they edged Morocco in a tense final in Rades. The Carthage Eagles have played 83 AFCON matches, winning 25, drawing 30 and losing 28. Past meetings with Nigeria include a 4–2 defeat in the 2000 finals and a 1–0 loss in the third-place match at the 2019 tournament in Egypt, although Tunisia eliminated the Super Eagles in the round of 16 in Cameroon four years ago.
Uganda’s Cranes have also traditionally proved stubborn opposition for Nigeria. Their clash with the Super Eagles in Fès on Tuesday, 30 December, is expected to be fiercely contested. Uganda are making their eighth AFCON appearance, having missed the last two editions. Their best-ever finish remains a runners-up spot in Ghana in 1978.
Optimism From NFF
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Musa Gusau has expressed strong confidence in the team’s prospects.
“We have prepared the team with the objective of lifting the trophy,” Gusau said.
“The World Cup miss still hurts, but winning the Africa Cup of Nations would go a long way in easing the disappointment of our fans at home and in the diaspora. It would also be a defining achievement for this generation of Super Eagles.”
Fixtures
Sunday
Morocco vs Comoros
Monday
Mali vs Zambia
South Africa vs Angola
Egypt vs Zimbabwe
Tuesday
DR Congo vs Benin
Senegal vs Botswana
Nigeria vs Tanzania
Wednesday
Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea
Algeria vs Sudan
Ivory Coast vs Mozambique
Cameroon vs Gabon
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
