Nigeria will take on Mozambique on Monday in the Round of 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) whose group stage ha now been concluded in Morocco.
The Mambas finished third in Group F on Wednesday night after losing 1-2 to Cameroon, who ended in second place behind title holders Cote d’Ivoire. The Elephants came from behind to beat Gabon 3-2.
In their sixth appearance in AFCON, this is the first time Mozambique will emerge from the group stage as their previous outings in 1986, 1996, 1998, 2010 and 2023 ended with the Mambas finishing bottom of the table on each occasions.
Nigeria’s only encounter with Mozambique in AFCON was in 2010 hosted by Angola. Both sides were in Group C, through which the Super Eagles emerged behind Egypt. Peter Odemwingie scored a brace within two minutes (45th and 47th), while Obafemi Martins added the third four minutes to the end of regulation time and end the game 3-0.
Both side also clashed in the qualifiers for 2010 FIFA World Cup with the Super Eagles winning 1-0 at home and playing goalless in the reverse fixture.
Round of 16 fixtures:
Saturday: Senegal v Sudan, Mali v Tunisia
Sunday: Morocco v Tanzania, South Africa v Cote d’Ivoire
Monday: Egypt v Benin, Nigeria v Mozambique
Tuesday: Algeria v DR Congo, Cameroon v Burkina Faso
