2025 AFCON: Things to know about Nigeria’s Group C opponents

Nigeria Super Eagles. Credit: AdekunlexAjayix via Soccernet

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As the continent’s top footballers gear up for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, the tournament is set to make history as the first to be played over Christmas and New Year.

The competition kicks off on Sunday, December 21, with hosts Morocco facing Comoros at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat at 19:00 GMT, while the final will be played on Sunday, January 18, 2026.

Nigeria have been drawn in Group C, alongside Tunisia, Tanzania and Uganda.

Below is a breakdown of the Super Eagles and their group rivals.

Fixtures:Dec 23 v Tanzania, Fes (1200)Dec 27 v Tunisia, Fes (1200)Dec 30 v Uganda, Fes (1700)

Qualifying: Group D winners

Results:Benin 3-0 (home), 1-1 (away)Rwanda 1-2 (away), 0-0 (home)Libya 1-0 (home), 3-0 (away)

Leading scorers: 2 – Ademola Lookman, Victor OsimhenCaptain: Wilfred Ndidi (midfielder)Coach: Eric Chelle (CIV)Rankings: Africa: 5 | World: 38Previous appearances: 20Best placing: Champions – 1980, 1994, 2013Most goals scored: DR Congo 4-2 (1976), Burkina Faso 4-2 (1978), Tunisia 4-2 (2000), South Africa 4-0 (2004), Mali 4-1 (2013)Most goals conceded: Egypt 3-6 (1963)Popular name: Super Eagles

Fixtures:Dec 23 v Uganda, Rabat (1430)Dec 27 v Nigeria, Fes (1200)Dec 30 v Tanzania, Rabat (1700)

Qualifying: Group A runners-up

Results:Comoros 0-1 (home), 1-1 (away)Gambia 0-1 (away), 2-1 (home)Madagascar 1-0 (home), 3-2 (away)

Leading scorer: 2 – Ali AbdiCaptain: Ferjani Sassi (midfielder)Coach: Sami Trabelsi (TUN)Rankings: Africa: 6 | World: 40Previous appearances: 21Best placing: Champions – 2004Most goals scored: Ethiopia 4-0 (1965), Zambia 4-2 (1996), Zambia 4-1 (2006), Zimbabwe 4-2 (2017), Mauritania 4-0 (2022)Most goals conceded: Ethiopia 2-4 (1962, 1963), Nigeria 2-4 (2000)Popular name: Carthage Eagles

Fixtures:Dec 23 v Nigeria, Fes (1200)Dec 27 v Uganda, Rabat (1430)Dec 30 v Tunisia, Rabat (1700)

Qualifying: Group H runners-up

Results:DR Congo 0-2 (home), 0-1 (away)Guinea 1-0 (home), 2-1 (away)Ethiopia 0-0 (away), 2-0 (home)

Leading scorers: 2 – Simon Msuva, Feisal SalumCaptain: Mbwana Samatta (forward)Coach: Miguel Gamondi (ARG)Rankings: Africa: 27 | World: 112Previous appearances: 3Best placing: Never past first roundMost goals scored: Kenya 2-3 (2019)Most goals conceded: Kenya 2-3, Algeria 0-3 (2019), Morocco 0-3 (2024)Popular name: Taifa Stars

Fixtures:Dec 23 v Tunisia, Rabat (1430)Dec 27 v Tanzania, Rabat (1430)Dec 30 v Nigeria, Fes (1700)

Qualifying: Group K runners-up

Results:South Africa 0-2 (home), 2-2 (away)Congo Brazzaville 2-0 (home), 1-0 (away)South Sudan 1-0 (home), 2-1 (away)

Leading scorer: 2 – Denis OmediCaptain: Khalid Aucho (midfielder)Coach: Paul Put (BEL)Rankings: Africa: 17 | World: 85Previous appearances: 7Best placing: Runners-up – 1978Most goals scored: Congo 3-1, Morocco 3-0 (1978)Most goals conceded: Algeria 0-4 (1968)Popular name: Cranes

1980: Group A – Nigeria 3, Tanzania 1

1962: Third place – Tunisia 3, Uganda 0

1978: Group B – Tunisia 3, Uganda 1

1978: Third place – Nigeria 2, Tunisia 0

2000: Group D – Nigeria 4, Tunisia 2

2004: Semi-final – Nigeria 1, Tunisia 1 (Tunisia won 5-3 on penalties)

2006: Quarter-final – Nigeria 1, Tunisia 1 (Nigeria won 6-5 on penalties)

2019: Third place – Nigeria 1, Tunisia 0

2022: Last 16 – Tunisia 1, Nigeria 0

1978: Semi-final – Uganda 2, Nigeria 1

Uganda v Tanzania, Tanzania v Tunisia

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