Tanzania’s Minister of Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, Professor Palamagamba Kabudi, has called on the Taifa Stars to seize the moment and leave a mark at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, beginning with their high-stakes clash against Nigeria.

The Group C fixture is set for December 23 at Fez Stadium and carries historic significance for Tanzania. This will be only the second AFCON group-stage meeting between the two nations, 46 years after their first encounter. The initial showdown, held on March 8, 1980, at Lagos National Stadium, ended in a 3-1 victory for Nigeria.

Speaking at the official national flag handover ceremony in Cairo, Kabudi urged the team to approach the tournament with discipline, unity, and national pride.

“In the Africa Nations Championship, Tanzania reached the quarter-finals unbeaten, setting a historic record for our country. I urge you to fight hard and make history again at AFCON,” Kabudi said.

Historically, Tanzania and Nigeria have met five times across all competitions, with Nigeria winning three matches and two ending in draws.

Beyond Nigeria, Tanzania will face new East African rivals in the group stage, including a first-ever AFCON meeting with Uganda. The two nations have clashed 22 times in total, with Uganda holding a strong advantage of 13 wins to Tanzania’s five. Tanzania will complete their Group C campaign against Tunisia, who defeated them 1-0 in their last meeting during the 2021 AFCON qualifiers.

Kabudi also confirmed strong government support for the team in Morocco. Deputy Minister Paul Makonda, along with other senior officials, will accompany the squad to boost morale and ensure the players feel the full backing of the nation during their historic AFCON campaign.