AFCON 2025 Round of 16: Super Eagles Set for Mozambique Showdown

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Nigeria’s Super Eagles are gearing up to face Mozambique in the Round of 16 of the 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) currently taking place in Morocco. The decisive knockout match is set for Monday, January 5, with an 8:00 pm kick-off at the Complexe Sportif de Fès, a stadium with a 35,000-seat capacity that has already hosted all three of Nigeria’s Group C fixtures.

The three-time African champions approach this encounter with confidence after a flawless group-stage showing. Nigeria won all three matches, netting eight goals and conceding four. Standout performers include Ademola Lookman and Raphael Onyedika, who both scored twice, while Semi Ajayi, Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi, and Paul Onuachu also contributed to the team’s goal tally.

Mozambique, on the other hand, had a more turbulent route to the knockouts. The Mambas opened their campaign with a defeat to defending champions Côte d’Ivoire, rebounded with a vital win against Gabon, and then narrowly lost 2-1 to Cameroon in their final group match.

Looking at historical encounters, Nigeria holds a strong record over Mozambique. The Super Eagles have met the Mambas five times at senior level, winning four matches. Their only prior AFCON clash came in January 2010 in Lubango, Angola, where Nigeria triumphed 3-0. Other notable meetings include a 1-0 friendly victory in Maputo in 1999, a 3-2 friendly win in Portugal in October 2023, and two 2009 World Cup qualifiers ending 0-0 in Maputo and 1-0 in Abuja—the latter decided by a stoppage-time goal from Obinna Nsofor.

AFCON 2025 Round of 16 Fixtures