Nigeria’s Super Eagles step into do-or-die territory on Monday night when they face Mozambique with a place in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations at stake.
The Round of 16 encounter, scheduled for 8 p.m. local time at the Complexe Sportif de Fès, marks Nigeria’s first knockout challenge of the tournament after a flawless group-stage campaign.
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The 35,000-capacity stadium, which has served as the Super Eagles’ base in Morocco, is expected to be awash with green and white as fans rally behind a side brimming with confidence.
Nigeria cruised through Group C with maximum points, scoring eight goals and conceding four in three matches. Ademola Lookman and Raphael Onyedika have led the scoring charts with two goals each, while Semi Ajayi, Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi, and Paul Onuachu have also found the net, underlining the depth of firepower at the team’s disposal.
Mozambique arrive in Fès as dangerous underdogs. After opening their campaign with a defeat to defending champions Ivory Coast, the Mambas stunned Gabon before narrowly losing 2–1 to Cameroon. Those results were enough to see them progress as one of the best third-placed teams, reinforcing their reputation as a side capable of punching above its weight.
Monday’s clash will be only the sixth senior international meeting between the two nations. History strongly favours Nigeria, who have won four of the previous five encounters, including a commanding 3–0 victory in their only AFCON meeting in 2010. Yet knockout football offers no guarantees, and Mozambique’s resilience suggests the Super Eagles will need to be at their sharpest.
With the tournament entering its decisive phase, Nigeria carry both expectation and momentum. Mozambique, meanwhile, have nothing to lose. The stage is set for a high-stakes contest that will define Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 ambitions.
