The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face Mozambique in the Round of 16 at the ongoing 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The Super Eagles and the Mambas will lock horns on Monday, 5 January, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm at the 35,000-capacity Complexe Sportif de Fès. The stadium has already become familiar territory for Nigeria, having hosted all three of their Group C matches.
Nigeria arrive in the last 16 brimming with confidence after a flawless group campaign. The three-time African champions swept aside all opposition, winning their three matches, scoring eight goals and conceding four.
Ademola Lookman and Raphael Onyedika have each found the net twice, while Semi Ajayi, Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Paul Onuachu have also contributed goals.
Mozambique’s route to the knockout phase has been far more rugged. The Mambas opened their campaign with defeat against reigning champions Côte d’Ivoire, steadied themselves with a hard-earned win over Gabon, and then narrowly lost 2-1 to Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions on Wednesday evening.
History tilts firmly in Nigeria’s favour. The two nations have met five times at senior level, with the Super Eagles winning four of those encounters. Their only previous AFCON meeting came in January 2010 in Lubango, Angola, where Nigeria cruised to a 3-0 victory.
Other results include a 1-0 friendly win in Maputo in August 1999, a 3-2 friendly success in Portugal in October 2023, and two World Cup qualifiers in 2009 that ended goalless in Maputo and 1-0 in Abuja. Obinna Nsofor’s stoppage-time strike in the Abuja qualifier proved decisive in keeping Nigeria’s World Cup hopes alive.
AFCON 2025 Round of 16 Fixtures
January 3: Senegal vs Sudan
January 3: Mali vs Tunisia
January 4: Morocco vs Tanzania
January 4: South Africa vs Cameroon
January 5: Egypt vs Benin
January 5: Nigeria vs Mozambique
January 6: Algeria vs DR Congo
January 6: Burkina Faso vs Côte d’Ivoire
Nigeria vs Mozambique Head-to-Head
17 Aug 1999: Mozambique 0-1 Nigeria, International Friendly, Maputo
29 Mar 2009: Mozambique 0-0 Nigeria, World Cup qualifier, Maputo
11 Oct 2009: Nigeria 1-0 Mozambique, World Cup qualifier, Abuja
20 Jan 2010: Mozambique 0-3 Nigeria, AFCON, Lubango, Angola
16 Oct 2023: Mozambique 2-3 Nigeria, International Friendly, Lisbon
