Nigeria vs Tanzania: Three Points for Super Eagles in AFCON Opener?

by Geoffrey Ejiga | by Cydias Aujard

image Nigeria vs Tanzania: Three Points for Super Eagles in AFCON Opener?
Nigeria eyes all three points in their opener against Tanzania in what should be their easiest game in Group C. In attack for the Super Eagles are two of the last three African Player of the Year award winners, who will be asking questions of a notably leaky Tanzania defence all game. Let's dive into the game plan for both teams to see if Nigeria is really up to the task and how a win might come by.

All or Nothing: Why Nigeria Must Beat Tanzania on Tuesday

With Tunisia and Uganda also fighting for one of two qualification spots in Group C of the AFCON, every single point matters. And for Nigeria, ensuring that they get all three against their easiest opponent on paper is a top priority.

Right after Tanzania is the Tunisia game for Nigeria. Although the Super Eagles are favourites, Tunisia have been amongst the best African teams of the past year and pose a real threat to Nigeria’s qualification chances. Tunisia notably finished the CAF World Cup qualifiers with 9 wins in 10 games and 22 goals scored without a single goal conceded.

Nigeria might be lucky to walk away with even a single point against the Eagles of Carthage. A relatively tough Uganda clash in the final round only increases the pressure for Nigeria to open their campaign with all three points against Tanzania.

Game Plan for Eric Chelle and Miguel Gamondi

With even a draw being unacceptable for Eric Chelle and his Nigeria team, we expect to see emphasis on the attack. While Chelle is outspoken in his preference for the 4-4-2 formation, he’ll likely go with the 4-3-3 that sees Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Samuel Chukwueze starting.

The Super Eagles need goals, and possibly multiple if Tanzania should bite back, as expected in our  for today. It's true that Tanzania has been underwhelming in front of goal in recent games. However, the Taifa Stars have risen to the occasion numerous times when the stakes are high.

We already saw their quality in the 2025 CHAN, where they made it to the quarterfinals and lost only 1-0 in a heavily contested game against champions Morocco. Tanzania relied heavily on a combination of defensive solidity and offensive efficiency that saw them go unbeaten in four group stage games.

The Taifa Stars not only won three games but also conceded only one goal before their loss to Morocco. That will likely be Gamondi’s game plan. Keep Nigeria's offence at bay, defend deep, and launch deadly counters when the time is right.

Players to Watch in Nigeria's Tanzania Test

For Super Eagles fans, all eyes will be on Osimhen and Lookman, the winners of the 2023 and 2024 African Player of the Year awards. The pair will be tasked with game-winning goals for Nigeria, just as they've done repeatedly for both club and country.

Besides scoring the most goals for Nigeria in 2025 (8), Osimhen has now scored three goals in his last three games. The 53rd-minute goal he scored against Antalyaspor in his latest outing also made it 14 goals in his last 13 games in all competitions.

Lookman, on the other hand, hasn't looked his best this season, with only three goals in 24 games since September. However, he remains an integral part of Chelle’s plan on the left flank. At least Chukwueze, who's manning the right flank, is razor sharp entering this game.

The Fulham man has been explosive in his last five games, where he recorded five goal contributions across four different games. It's two goals and three assists to Samuel's name, to be specific.