Dar es Salaam. Since the official announcement of the groups for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025, which kicked off a few days ago in Morocco, football fans across Tanzania have been gripped by anxiety and excitement in equal measure, with many believing that Taifa Stars have been placed in what is widely described as a “group of death”.
The presence of continental heavyweights Nigeria and Tunisia, alongside a steadily improving Uganda side, has piled early pressure on the national team, leaving supporters uneasy about the task ahead in Group C.
However, inside the Taifa Stars camp, the mood tells a different story, as head coach Miguel Gamondi and his players are said to have made a firm commitment that they have travelled to Morocco with one mission only: to shed the long-standing tag of underdogs and prove that the time for change has arrived.
For those unaware, today marks exactly 699 days, equivalent to one year, ten months and 29 days, since Taifa Stars last played a match at the AFCON finals, during the 2023 edition held in the Ivory Coast.
Now back on Africa’s biggest stage, the Stars are ready to make a fresh statement, with players confidently declaring that this time around, Tanzania will not just participate but compete.
Taifa Stars begin their AFCON 2025 campaign tonight, Tuesday, by facing Nigeria’s Super Eagles in what will be the opening match of the tournament for both sides.
The encounter is scheduled to kick off at 8:30 pm Tanzania time at the Fez Stadium in the city of Fez, Morocco, marking only the second time the two nations have met at the AFCON finals, nearly 45 years after their first meeting.
Their previous AFCON clash came in 1980 when Nigeria hosted the tournament, opening their campaign with a 3–1 victory over Tanzania in Lagos on March 8, before going on to lift their maiden continental title.
Overall, the two sides have met seven times across different competitions, with Nigeria maintaining an unbeaten record of four wins and three draws, scoring 11 goals and conceding only three.
From Tanzania’s perspective, those seven meetings have yielded three draws and four defeats, with Taifa Stars managing three goals while allowing Nigeria to score 11.
Their most recent encounters were during the AFCON 2017 qualifiers, when the teams played out a goalless draw in Dar es Salaam on September 5, 2015, before Nigeria secured a 1–0 win in Uyo on September 3, 2016.
An interesting subplot in tonight’s match sees Nigeria’s goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, who currently plays for Singida Black Stars, coming up against his club teammates Hussein Masalanga and Khalid Idd ‘Gego’, both part of the Taifa Stars squad, under the guidance of the same coach, Miguel Gamondi.
Nigeria arrive with a wealth of attacking talent, led by dangerous forwards Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen, who were the top scorers for the Super Eagles during qualification, each netting twice.
They are supported by creative and pacey players such as Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze, whose ability to unlock defences will be a major concern for the Tanzanian back line.
For Taifa Stars, Simon Msuva and Feisal Salum carry the biggest attacking threat after each scored two goals during the qualifiers, while captain Mbwana Samatta remains a vital figure in leading the team both on and off the pitch.
Nigeria are making their 21st AFCON appearance and boast an impressive record with three titles won in 1980, 1994 and 2013, a pedigree that dwarfs Tanzania’s history at the tournament.
In their previous three AFCON appearances, Taifa Stars have failed to win a single match, finishing bottom of their group each time, with one point in 1980, none in 2019 in Egypt, and two points in the 2023 finals in the Ivory Coast.
Victory tonight would therefore represent a historic milestone, giving Tanzania their first-ever three points at an AFCON finals, a moment many fans have waited decades to witness.
Nigeria’s consistency at AFCON is further underlined by the fact that they have finished in the top three at 13 of the last 15 tournaments and have only exited at the group stage twice in their history.
Taifa Stars face a daunting challenge, especially given that they have struggled to score in opening AFCON matches, failing to find the net in 2019 and 2023 after last doing so back in 1980.
As the stage is set in Fez, all eyes will be on whether Tanzania can finally rewrite their AFCON narrative against one of Africa’s toughest opponents, or whether Nigeria’s experience and pedigree will once again prove decisive.
