- AFCON Knockout: Super Eagles Set To Face Mozambique
- Nigeria qualified with a perfect group stage record.
- Head to head history strongly favours Nigeria.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will take on Mozambique in the Round of 16 at the ongoing 35th Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the knockout clash is scheduled for Monday, January 5, with kick off set for 8pm at the 35,000 capacity Complexe Sportif de Fès. The venue is familiar ground for the Super Eagles, having hosted all three of Nigeria’s Group C matches.
Nigeria booked a place in the knockout stage after a perfect group campaign. The three time African champions won all three matches, scored eight goals and conceded four, finishing top of their group with maximum points.
Ademola Lookman and Raphael Onyedika were the standout scorers in the group stage, netting twice each. Semi Ajayi, Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Paul Onuachu also got on the scoresheet as Nigeria impressed with depth and attacking balance.
Mozambique’s path to the last 16 was more demanding. The Mambas opened their campaign with a defeat to defending champions Côte d’Ivoire, recovered with a narrow win against Gabon, and then lost 2 1 to Cameroon in their final group match on Wednesday.
Head to head records favour Nigeria. Both teams have met five times at senior level, with the Super Eagles winning four encounters. Their only AFCON meeting came in January 2010 in Angola, where Nigeria recorded a comfortable 3 0 victory.
Other past meetings include a 1 0 friendly win in Maputo in 1999, a 3 2 friendly victory in Portugal in 2023, and two World Cup qualifiers in 2009. One of those qualifiers ended goalless in Maputo, while Obinna Nsofor’s late strike secured a 1 0 win for Nigeria in Abuja.
AFCON Round of 16 fixtures will see Senegal face Sudan, Mali tackle Tunisia, Morocco meet Tanzania, South Africa play Cameroon, Egypt clash with Benin, Algeria battle DR Congo, and Burkina Faso face Côte d’Ivoire.
