Nigeria will resume their push for a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title on Monday when they face Mozambique in the round of 16 at the Fez Stadium, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
A win would send the Super Eagles into the last eight for the 12th time in tournament history, extending their record as the most frequent quarter-finalists ahead of Egypt. Mozambique, by contrast, is making its first-ever appearance at the knockout stage after progressing beyond the group phase for the first time in six AFCON outings.
History favours Nigeria going into the tie. The Super Eagles are unbeaten in five previous meetings with the Mambas, recording four wins and one draw. Their only AFCON clash came at the 2010 tournament, where Nigeria claimed a convincing 3–0 group-stage victory, with Peter Odemwingie scoring twice and Obafemi Martins also finding the net.
The teams last met in October 2023, when Nigeria edged a five-goal friendly 3–2, courtesy of strikes from Terem Moffi, Frank Onyeka, and Moses Simon.
Nigeria arrived at the knockout phase on the back of an impressive group-stage campaign, winning all three matches against Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda. The Super Eagles scored eight goals, their highest tally in an AFCON group phase, while conceding four, underlining both their attacking threat and defensive resilience.
The results took Nigeria’s all-time AFCON wins to 61, just one behind record holders Egypt, while their run of scoring in 10 consecutive tournament matches remains intact.
Several players have stood out for the Super Eagles so far, most notably Ademola Lookman, who has scored twice and provided two assists, earning a place in the group-stage Best XI. Victor Osimhen, Nigeria’s leading striker with 32 goals in 49 international appearances, is expected to lead the attack, with captain Wilfred Ndidi anchoring the midfield alongside Alex Iwobi and Raphael Onyedika.
Defender Semi Ajayi and wing-back Bright Osayi-Samuel are both in line to return to the starting line-up as Nigeria look to maintain their momentum in the competition.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s strong start, Lookman said the team remained focused on bigger objectives. “We had a great run in the group stage, and I’m thankful for the recognition,” he said. “But this is not just about me, it reflects the work of the entire team. We have clear targets here in Morocco, and we are not close to achieving them yet.”
Mozambique reached the knockout stage after recording their first-ever AFCON finals victory, defeating Gabon in the group phase. They also found the net against Cameroon in their final group match, though they eventually lost 2–1.
Coached by Chiquinho Conde and captained by Domingues, the Mambas will depend heavily on defenders Nené, Bruno Langa, and Reinildo Mandava, while Chamito, Faisal Banga,l and João Bonde are expected to provide attacking support. Geny Catamo has emerged as a key threat, becoming the first Mozambican player to score in consecutive AFCON matches.
The match will be officiated by Cameroonian referee Abdou Abdel Mefir, assisted by compatriots Elvis Noupoue and Carine Atezambong.
