Nigeria will chase a fourth Africa Cup of Nations crown when they lock horns with Mozambique on Monday night in the Round of 16 of the 2025 tournament in Morocco. The encounter will take place at the Stade de Fès, with kick-off scheduled for 8 p.m. local time.
While progression to the knockout stages is familiar ground for the Super Eagles, it represents uncharted territory for Mozambique. The Mambas have reached this stage for the first time in their history, having failed to advance beyond the group phase in their previous five AFCON appearances.
However, past records and pedigree are often irrelevant once the game gets underway in Fès.
Nigeria head into the clash in commanding form. Eric Chelle’s men dominated Group C, recording maximum points from three matches with victories over Tanzania (2–1), Tunisia (3–2) and Uganda (3–1). Those results took Nigeria’s overall AFCON goal tally to 152 goals in 107 matches since their tournament debut in 1963.
The Super Eagles’ eight goals in Morocco mark their highest-ever return in a single group phase and the first time they have scored at least twice in every group match at an AFCON. Their win over Uganda was also Nigeria’s 61st in the competition, leaving them second only to Egypt (62).
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The goals have been spread across the squad, underlining Nigeria’s attacking depth. Ademola Lookman and Raphael Onyedika both netted twice in the group stage, while Semi Ajayi, Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Paul Onuachu also found the net.
Mozambique arrive with a contrasting profile. They finished third in Group F after defeats to Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon, sandwiching a historic win over Gabon. That victory was their first ever at the AFCON finals and secured a maiden knockout appearance at their sixth attempt.
In 18 AFCON matches overall, the Mambas have recorded just one win, four draws and 13 defeats. They are yet to keep a clean sheet at the tournament and have conceded in every AFCON game they have played, a record shared only with Zimbabwe.
Despite those numbers, there are encouraging signs. Mozambique have scored in each of their last two matches, the first time they have managed that feat in a single AFCON edition. Geny Catamo has been central to that progress, scoring against both Gabon and Cameroon to become the first Mozambican player to net in consecutive AFCON games. With three AFCON goals and four goal contributions in five appearances, he now holds the best individual record for his country at the tournament.
History firmly favours Nigeria. Monday’s tie will be the sixth senior meeting between the sides and their second at AFCON. Their only previous AFCON encounter came in January 2010 in Angola, when the Super Eagles claimed a 3–0 win courtesy of a Peter Odemwingie brace and a strike from Obafemi Martins.
Overall, Nigeria are unbeaten in five meetings with Mozambique, registering four wins and one draw. The teams also crossed paths during the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, drawing 0–0 in Maputo before Nigeria edged a 1–0 win in Abuja through a late Victor Obinna goal. Their most recent clash was a friendly in October 2023, which Nigeria won 3–2.
