Super Eagles target fourth crown as 35th AFCON kicks off in Morocco

By Tosin Omojola –

The arrival of Nigeria in Fez, Morocco, on Thursday evening signalled the reality of a stout challenge for a fourth continental title.

Winners at home in 1980, and in Tunisia in 1994 and South Africa in 2013, the Super Eagles will launch their onslaught for another title against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars on Tuesday in the historic city of Fes, with the added impetus of wanting to appease their teeming fans at home and in the diaspora after failing to qualify for next year’s FIFA World Cup finals in the Far East.

The retirement of William Troost-Ekong, on the margins of the team’s departure to Cairo for their final training camp, has opened the door for midfield enforcer Wilfred Ndidi to take the captain’s armband, with veterans Moses Simon and Alex Iwobi, and prolific forward Victor Osimhen, as possible assistants.

The much-anticipated opening ceremony on Sunday, featuring, among others, Nigeria’s globally acclaimed singer Davido at the iconic Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, will be followed by the opening match between hosts Morocco and Comoros, with the Atlas Lions hoping for a great start to continue their impressive run in international football.

Nigeria, who won their first AFCON title on home soil 45 years ago after defeating Tanzania in their opening match, will strive for a big win in order to be in good stead and retain a winning mentality ahead of clashes with difficult customers Tunisia (on Saturday, 27 December) and Uganda (on Tuesday, 30 December).

Coach Eric Chelle opened a window into his frame of mind going into the tournament when he spoke to CAFOnline.com last month. “When you coach Nigeria, you have to win everything.” This is the reality he faces and must deal with, especially after the World Cup miss.

Tanzania, coached by Nigeria legend Emmanuel Amuneke, a 1994 AFCON winner, to qualify for and participate in the 2019 finals in Egypt, will be making only their fourth appearance at the competition, and a second consecutive outing following their appearance in Côte d’Ivoire. They have played nine matches overall, drawing three and losing six, without recording a single win.

Tunisia have made 21 previous appearances at the championship, one more than Nigeria, and consistency is their hallmark, with Morocco 2025 marking their 17th consecutive appearance. Their only previous triumph was on home soil in 2004, when they edged Morocco’s Atlas Lions in a tension-soaked final in Radès. The Carthage Eagles have played a total of 83 AFCON matches, winning 25, losing 28 and drawing 30.

Among their previous losses were a 4–2 reverse to co-hosts Nigeria in 2000, and a lone-goal defeat by the Eagles in the third-place match of the 2019 finals in Egypt. There was another contentious third-place match in Ghana in 1978 that was awarded to Nigeria after the Carthage Eagles walked off the pitch following a goal by Baba Otu Mohammed. Tunisia eliminated Nigeria in the Round of 16 in Cameroon four years ago.

Uganda’s Cranes have always proved difficult customers for the Super Eagles in qualifying campaigns and championship meetings. Philip Omondi scored both goals to eliminate Nigeria in the semi-finals of the 1978 championship in Ghana, and since then, even with star-studded squads, the Eagles have often struggled against the Cranes. Their clash in Fes on Tuesday, 30 December, is one to look forward to.

Uganda will be heading to their eighth AFCON appearance, though they missed the last two finals in Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire. The Cranes have played a total of 23 matches at the finals, winning four, drawing three and losing 16. Their runner-up finish in Ghana in 1978, when they were crushed by the Opoku Afriyie-led Black Stars in a festive final in Accra, remains their best result to date.

On the balance, the Super Eagles, who have played a total of 104 matches across their 20 previous outings, are expected to safely negotiate their way through the group stage in Fes before taking it one game at a time in the knockout rounds in Morocco.