Nigeria targets quarter-final spot as AFCON 2025 knockouts begin
Nigeria’s Super Eagles are preparing for a Round of 16 showdown against Mozambique on Monday as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations reaches the knockout stage.
The team has entered this phase in dominant form, having won all three of their Group C matches, a feat matched by only Algeria in the tournament held in Morocco.
The flawless group performance represents a strong response from the Super Eagles after missing out on qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Coach Eric Chelle has guided Nigeria past Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda, setting up a clash with the Mambas of Mozambique.
Mozambique aims for first knockout appearance
Mozambique enters the Round of 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams from the group stage, having lost two matches and secured a single victory against Gabon.
This will mark the country’s debut in the knockout phase of the Africa Cup of Nations. Defensive concerns remain for the Southern African side, who have never kept a clean sheet in their 18 previous AFCON matches.
Nigeria, meanwhile, scored the most goals in the group stage, relying on an attacking core that includes Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, and Samuel Chukwueze.
Midfielders and regular starters such as Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Stanley Nwabali, Frank Onyeka, and Akor Adams are expected to feature, while Raphael Onyedika could earn a starting position after scoring twice against Uganda.
Nigeria holds historical advantage
This will be the second AFCON encounter between the two nations, with Nigeria having won four of the five previous meetings.
Their first clash came in 2010, resulting in a 3–0 win in Angola, and the Super Eagles also secured a 3–2 friendly victory over Mozambique in Portugal in 2023.
Ranked 30th globally compared to Mozambique’s 102nd, Nigeria heads into Monday’s match as clear favourites, although the Mambas will be hoping to cause an upset.
