AFCON 2025: Nigeria vs Mozambique Preview

Nigeria and Mozambique will battle for a place in the quarter-finals when they meet in the Round of 16 of the 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. The encounter marks just the sixth senior international meeting between both nations, adding extra intrigue to the knockout showdown.

The Super Eagles head into the tie full of confidence following an impressive group-stage campaign. Nigeria recorded three wins from three matches in Group C, scoring eight goals and conceding four to finish top of the group.

Ademola Lookman and Raphael Onyedika emerged as standout performers, each scoring twice, while Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi, Semi Ajayi, and Paul Onuachu also found the back of the net during the group phase.

Mozambique’s route to the knockout stage was far more demanding. The Mambas began their campaign with a defeat to defending champions Côte d’Ivoire before bouncing back with a crucial victory over Gabon. Despite a 2–1 loss to Cameroon in their final group match, the Mozambicans did enough to secure a Round of 16 spot.

The clash is scheduled for Monday, January 5, at the Complexe Sportif de Fès, a 35,000-capacity stadium that has served as Nigeria’s base throughout the group stage. Kick-off is set for 20:00 local time, with the three-time African champions aiming to book a place in the last eight.

While Nigeria enter the contest as favourites on paper, Mozambique have shown resilience and competitiveness against stronger opposition. Their physical style and fighting spirit could pose problems in a knockout setting where fine margins often determine the outcome.

Head-to-Head Record

History favours Nigeria, who have won four of the previous five meetings between the two sides. Their only AFCON encounter came in 2010, when the Super Eagles claimed a 3–0 victory in Lubango, Angola.

The teams also met during the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, drawing 0–0 in Maputo before Nigeria secured a 1–0 win in Abuja. Their most recent clash was a friendly in October 2023, which Nigeria won 3–2 in Lisbon.

With a quarter-final place at stake, both teams will be eager to deliver disciplined and determined performances in what promises to be a tightly contested encounter.

Match Details

Fixture: Nigeria vs Mozambique

Date: Monday, January 5

Time: 20:00

Venue: Complexe Sportif de Fès

Nigeria vs Mozambique – Previous Meetings

17 Aug 1999: Mozambique 0–1 Nigeria (Friendly)

29 Mar 2009: Mozambique 0–0 Nigeria (World Cup qualifier)

11 Oct 2009: Nigeria 1–0 Mozambique (World Cup qualifier)

20 Jan 2010: Mozambique 0–3 Nigeria (AFCON)

16 Oct 2023: Mozambique 2–3 Nigeria (Friendly)

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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