Nigeria will walk into their opening Group C fixture against Tanzania at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco as overwhelming favourites, Soccernet.ng reports.
When the Super Eagles face Tanzania at the Fez Stadium on Tuesday evening, the labels are easy to apply: three-time champions versus a side making just its fourth appearance at Africa’s biggest football party.
On paper, it looks like a mismatch. Nigeria boast the highest points-per-game ratio in AFCON history, sit 38th in the FIFA rankings and arrive with a squad stacked with elite European experience. Tanzania, ranked 112th, are still searching for their first-ever AFCON win. It is, by every conventional measure, David against Goliath.
But AFCON has never been a competition that respects paper form. Upsets are not accidents here; they are part of the culture. And Tanzania, inspired by Argentine coach Miguel Ángel Gamondi, arrive with belief, organisation and a handful of players capable of turning Nigeria’s opener into an uncomfortable evening.
If the Super Eagles are to avoid becoming the latest heavyweight caught cold on AFCON’s opening weekend, three Tanzania threats must be controlled, contained and, ideally, silenced.
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Tanzania's dangerman: Mbwana Samatta
Every underdog needs a figurehead, and for Tanzania that man is Mbwana Samatta. The Taifa Stars captain is the emotional engine of this team.
Now at Le Havre, Samatta remains one of the finest forwards Tanzania has ever produced. With 85 caps and 22 international goals, he is the third-highest scorer in the nation’s history. His CV also carries serious weight, including Premier League experience with Aston Villa, and that pedigree shows in his movement, work rate and intelligence.
Samatta is not just about finishing. He harries defenders, presses aggressively from the front and thrives on forcing mistakes. He will pull centre-backs into areas they do not want to go, drop deep to link play and then arrive late in the box when defenders switch off.
For Nigeria’s back line, complacency is the real danger. Underestimate Samatta, and he will punish lapses with clever positioning or by dragging markers away to create space for others. He may not dominate possession, but he knows exactly how to dominate moments.
Tanzania's dangerman: Simon Msuva
If Tanzania are to write a piece of AFCON history in Fez, Simon Msuva is the man most likely to hold the pen.
The Al-Talaba SC forward has long been Tanzania’s go-to player for decisive goals. With 24 goals in 99 appearances, Msuva will earn his 100th cap against Nigeria, a milestone reached by only two players before him in Taifa Stars history.
There is more fuel on the fire. One goal would see Msuva draw level with the legendary Mrisho Ngassa as Tanzania’s all-time top scorer on 25 goals. Two would give him the record outright. Motivation will not be lacking.
Direct, quick and brave in one-v-one situations, Msuva thrives when given space to attack full-backs. Switch off for a second, allow him to cut inside onto his stronger foot, and Nigeria could find themselves chasing a game they expected to control.
Tanzania's dangerman: Feisal Salum
While Samatta leads the line and Msuva hunts moments, Feisal Salum provides Tanzania with rhythm, imagination and bite.
The 27-year-old is a free-scoring midfielder with the engine of a box-to-box player and the brain of a playmaker. Technically gifted and tactically flexible, Salum can operate as an attacking midfielder, a deep-lying organiser or a relentless presser who pops up everywhere from his own box to Nigeria’s penalty area.
Salum’s threat lies in his unpredictability. He presses until his legs burn, recycles possession intelligently and punishes any lapse in concentration. His two goals during the AFCON qualifiers shows his eye for goal, while his vision and composure allow Tanzania to transition quickly from defence to attack.
For Nigeria’s midfield, this is a test of discipline. Lose Salum between the lines, and he will hurt you. Allow him time to look up, and he will pick passes that expose defensive shape.
Nigeria may be giants of African football, but giants still need balance. Against a spirited, motivated Tanzania side, the Super Eagles must match intensity with intelligence.
Kick-off is at 6:30pm Nigerian time in Fez.
