Nigeria’s Super Eagles may be in for a pretty tough start to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, as Tanzania are determined not to lose against the team that has beaten them three times in five clashes.
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Sports247 reports that the first time they met was in the opening match of the 1980 AFCON in Lagos, which the then Green Eagles won 3-1, en route to their first conquest of Africa.
Both sides are again set to lock horns on Tuesday in their first group fixture of AFCON 2025, ahead of which the media in Dar-Es-Salaam is beating up public sentiment about victory for The Taifa Stars.
Writing under the headline ‘Tanzania eye 46-year revenge against Nigeria at Afcon finals,’ a sports reporter with Mwananchi Communications Limited, Majuto Omary stressed that The Taifa Stars are determined to win on Tuesday.
That would be the first time they would defeat a Nigerian squad, but Omary believes it is possible, especially as he recalls how they managed to snatch a 1-1 draw away to the Super Eagles after their defeat in 1980.
As if to confirm their ability to turn the tide on Tuesday, the Tanzanian squad defeated Egyptian club, Halas El Hodood SC 1-0 in a friendly, which officials described as a morale-boosting victory in their last build-up fixture.
The only goal came from Morice Abraham, after which Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) information officer, Clifford Ndimbo said the result reflected high morale among the players ahead of the continental showpiece.
He disclosed that the football federation is supporting the coach towards not only shocking Nigeria on Tuesday but also to get a glorious outing altogether at Maroc 2025.
“TFF is working closely with the technical bench to ensure Taifa Stars perform well in the tournament and progress beyond the group stage, similar to our run in the 2024 CHAN, where we reached the quarter-finals,” Ndimbo said.
