Nigeria face Tanzania in their Africa Cup of Nations 2025 opener looking to put World Cup 2026 qualifying heartbreak behind them.
The Super Eagles will hope to conquer Africa after going so close last time out in the 2-1 final defeat to Ivory Coast, with fellow contenders Egypt up and running after late drama last night in a 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe, with Mohamed Salah putting uncertainty over his Liverpool future behind him to strike for the Pharaohs.
Despite surviving CAF qualifying and then snatching a dramatic extra-time victory over Gabon in the playoff semi-final, Nigeria succumbed to DR Congo on penalties, meaning two successive World Cups without an appearance.
Nigeria's 2-1 friendly loss to Egypt before the tournament has hit their momentum, but expectations will be high ahead of the opener against the Taifa Stars, with Wilfred Ndidi leading the Super Eagles and Victor Osimhen tasked with firing them to success up top.
Follow live updates from Nigeria v Tanzania, below:
Read MoreAfcon 2025: How to watch every match for free on TV and online
Afcon 2025 fixtures: Results and full schedule for Africa Cup of Nations
Why is the Africa Cup of Nations taking place over Christmas?
Africa Cup of Nations 2025: Nigeria v Tanzania
- Super Eagles in Group C action to open Africa Cup of Nations campaign | Live at 5:30pm GMT on Channel 4
- Tunisia v Uganda rounds up Group C opening matches at 8pm GMT
- Group D action today sees Senegal v Botswana and Congo DR v Benin
Team news coming up
16:20 , Will CastleWe should be expecting team news to be revealed in the next 10 or so minutes.
In the meantime, here’s Nigeria winger Chidera Ejuke’s message to Super Eagles fans as the players make their walk through Fes.
Team walk done ✔️
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) December 23, 2025
Match Time 🔜#NGATAN #Naija4TheWin #AFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/8NWINddZ6z
Nigeria vs Tanzania: Who are the ones to watch?
16:15 , Will CastleOn paper, this afternoon’s meeting in Fes is something of a mismatch.
Nigeria are without question the stronger team and go into the tournament as one of the title hopefuls, with their attacking firepower arguably the best in the competition.
Galatasaray marksman Victor Osimhen will lead from the front but will be supported by the likes of Atalanta star Ademola Lookman and dangerous Fulham winger Samuel Chukwueze, with his Whites teammates Alex Iwobi also providing a creative threat from deeper.
And while much of the Tanzania squad won’t be recognised by the average Premier League fan, there are a few names that have penetrated the English game.
Ally Samatta spent a few months at Aston Villa in 2020 and is currently at Ligue 1 club Le Havre. Meanwhile, in the lower leagues, pacey winger Tarryn Allarakhia currently plies his trade for National League leaders Rochdale, and Haji Mnoga has been at League Two side Salford City since August 2024.
State of play in Senegal vs Botswana
16:13 , Will CastleIn the precursor to this afternoon’s clash between Nigeria and Tanzania, Senegal currently lead Botswana 1-0 in Tangier.
Nicolas Jackson’s 40th-minute goal is currently proving the difference, with the game about five minutes into the second half.
Mohamed Salah resumes role as Egypt's eternal hero
16:00 , Will CastleCometh the hour, cometh the man.
Mohamed Salah snatched a dramatic stoppage-time winner last night as Egypt came from behind to beat Zimbabwe 2-1 in their first fixture at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Egypt captain, starting his first game after four successive matches on the bench at Liverpool, fired home a left-footed effort in the 91st minute to earn the seven-times champions a late victory after Zimbabwe had stunned them by going ahead in the first half.
Here’s a full rundown of the action:
Salah scores late winner as Egypt come from behind to beat Zimbabwe in Afcon opener
WATCH: Ayoub El Kaabi's astonishing bicycle kick in Afcon opener
15:45 , Will CastleIt just gets better and better every time you watch it. Ayoub El Kaabi getting Afcon off to a bang for hosts Morocco.
When acrobatics meet precision. ⚡
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 21, 2025
Ayoub El Kaabi delivers the Goal of the Day with a bicycle kick. ⚽🇲🇦#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 | @1xBet_Eng pic.twitter.com/ubvfbMs0LE
Today's order of play
15:30 , Will CastleAfcon is into its third day of action with all eyes on who will strike the first blows in Group C and D.
The afternoon kicked off with Group D’s opener as DR Congo dispatched Benin 1-0 thanks to Spartak Moscow winger Theo Bongonda’s 16th-minute strike. The game included VAR controversy involving a disallowed goal for Real Betis veteran Cedric Bakambu, before the technology system went out of action for a period of the second half.
We’re now about half an hour into our second Group D game of the day, with title contenders Senegal taking on Botswana in Tangier.
Then it’s to Group C, with Nigeria looking to start their conquest of Africa in flying fashion against Tanzania from 5:30pm - we’ll bring you all the action from that one, right here.
And to finish off the evening, Group C’s second outing contends Tunisia and Uganda in Rabat, kicking off at 8pm.
Afcon results so far
15:15 , Will CastleSunday 21 December
Morocco 2-0 Comoros
Monday 22 December
Mali 1-1 Zambia
South Africa 2-1 Angola
Egypt 2-1 Zimbabwe
Tuesday 23 December
DR Congo 1-0 Benin
Nigeria v Tanzania predicted line-ups
15:00 , Jack RathbornPossible Nigeria XI: Nwabali; Sanusi, Bassey, Ajayi, Osayi-Samuel; Ndidi, Iwobi, Chukwueze, Lookman; Osimhen, Adams
Possible Tanzania XI: Suleiman; Kaponbe, Mwamnyeto, D. Job, M. Husseini; N Miroshi, F Salum; Msuva, M'Mombwa, Allarakhia; Samatta
How to watch Nigeria vs Tanzania for free on TV and online
14:45 , Will CastleThe Africa Cup of Nations is back and every game will be available to watch in the United Kingdom across Channel 4, including today’s clash between Nigeria and Tanzania.
The broadcaster has secured exclusive rights to the 24-team tournament and will show every game - with the Boxing Day fixture between Mohamed Salah’s Egypt and South Africa live on Channel 4’s main channel. The remainder of the group-stage games will be available to watch on E4 or 4Seven, or online on Channel 4’s streaming service.
Nigeria vs Tanzania live
14:30 , Will CastleNigeria face Tanzania in their Africa Cup of Nations 2025 opener looking to put World Cup 2026 qualifying heartbreak behind them.
The Super Eagles will hope to conquer Africa after going so close last time out in the 2-1 final defeat to Ivory Coast.
Despite surviving CAF qualifying and then snatching a dramatic extra-time victory over Gabon in the playoff semi-final, Nigeria succumbed to DR Congo on penalties, meaning two successive World Cups without an appearance.
Nigeria's 2-1 friendly loss to Egypt before the tournament has hit their momentum, but expectations will be high ahead of the opener against the Taifa Stars, with Wilfred Ndidi leading the Super Eagles and Victor Osimhen tasked with firing them to success up top.
Good afternoon
13:26 , Will CastleHello there and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations opener against Tanzania!
We’ll have all the build-up, team news and match action, right here.
