Nigeria will play Tanzania at Fez Stadium on Tuesday to begin their Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
Haunted by their narrow 2–1 loss to Ivory Coast in the last final, the Super Eagles are determined to rise above past heartbreak, desperate to banish the pain of missing the 2026 World Cup.
A whirlwind of revised CAF rules, a dramatic late push to clinch second in Group C, and a thrilling extra-time triumph over Gabon kept Nigeria’s World Cup dream flickering, only for it to be extinguished in a heartbreaking penalty loss to DR Congo.
That defeat carved a painful chapter into Nigeria’s football story, marking the first time since their 1994 debut that the three-time African champions have missed back-to-back global tournaments.
Redemption now feels urgent for these continental giants, whose recent 2–1 friendly loss to Egypt snapped a promising seven-match streak, five of which ended in victory when counting their extra-time win over Gabon.
Despite their momentum wavering, anything less than a winning start would be hard to justify for the world’s 38th-ranked team, especially against opponents sitting 74 spots below them.
Still, caution lingers. Recent history warns of early stumbles: Nigeria managed only a 1–1 draw with Equatorial Guinea in its last AFCON opener before rallying to reach the final.
That final heartbreak against the Ivory Coast means the Super Eagles’ quest for a first continental crown since 2013 continues. With stars like Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi, and Calvin Bassey in their ranks, only a strong start will satisfy expectations for Eric Chelle’s men.
Tanzania, in contrast, steps onto the stage with little pressure, its gaze already drifting toward the 2027 tournament it will co-host with Uganda and Kenya.
Even so, the Taifa Stars are eager to rewrite their story, having bowed out at the group stage in all four previous appearances, most recently finishing last in their pool with just two points.
Confidence is scarce for Miguel Gamondi’s squad, who have gone seven matches without a win, including four straight defeats that saw them finish third in their World Cup qualifying group.
Their other setbacks came in friendlies, and with just two goals scored in their last seven matches—including a 4-3 loss to Kuwait—Tanzania face a daunting challenge against a Nigerian side they have not scored against in their last three meetings, losing three of the last five encounters.
