The Super Eagles head into their Group C encounter against Tanzania at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with history and numbers firmly on their side, as they look to make a strong statement early in the tournament, Footynaija.com reports.
This will be the ninth meeting between both nations, and Tanzania are still searching for a first win against Nigeria. The Super Eagles remain unbeaten across all eight previous encounters, recording five victories and three draws, a record that displays their long-standing dominance in the fixture.
Nigeria’s superiority extends beyond the head-to-head record and into continental pedigree. The three-time African champions, who lifted the AFCON trophy in 1980, 1994 and 2013, arrive in Morocco as runners-up from the last edition in 2023 and one of the most experienced sides in the competition.
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They have not lost any of their last six AFCON group-stage matches, a run that reflects their consistency and strong tournament mentality. By contrast, Tanzania’s AFCON journey has been far less decorated.
Ranked 112th in the world compared to Nigeria who sit 38th, the Taifa Stars are still searching for their first-ever victory at the Africa Cup of Nations. Their struggles have been evident in front of goal, having failed to score in six of their last eight AFCON matches, while defensive lapses have seen them go six games without a clean sheet.
Recent meetings between the two sides have followed a familiar pattern. Nigeria edged Tanzania 1-0 during AFCON qualifying in 2016 and held them to a goalless draw away the previous year, results that mirrored earlier encounters dating back to 1980, when the Super Eagles also held the upper hand in both AFCON and World Cup qualifying clashes.
Ultimately, the numbers and tournament records paint Nigeria as clear favourites going into Tuesday’s contest in Fez. However, AFCON has a long history of surprises, and Tanzania will be hoping to defy the odds as they face a Super Eagles side determined to begin their campaign on a strong note.
