AFCON 2025: Tanzania’s ‘sure’ plan to shackle Victor Osimhen

Tanzanian head coach Miguel Gamondi has acknowledged the scale of the task facing his side ahead of Tuesday’s AFCON 2025 Group C opener against the Super Eagles.

The Argentine revealed that Nigeria’s attacking depth is central to his team’s preparation. Speaking at Monday’s pre-match press conference, Gamondi admitted that stopping Victor Osimhen alone will not be enough.

“We have a for sure tactical plan to try to neutralize Victor Osimhen, but it’s not only him,” Gamondi said. “You have a player like Chukwueze, like Lookman. If one is neutralized, the other is attacking.”

The three time AFCON winners go into the fixture aiming to make an early statement in Morocco as they chase a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title. Eric Chelle’s side boasts one of the most feared forward lines at the tournament, with Osimhen leading the line and supported by Samuel Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman, both of whom arrive in strong club form. 

Will Nigeria’s dominance over Tanzania continue at AFCON 2025?

Nigeria and Tanzania will meet at the Africa Cup of Nations for only the second time when they face off in Fes on Tuesday, 45 years after their first encounter at the tournament. 

Their sole previous AFCON meeting came at the 1980 finals, when Nigeria, as hosts, opened their campaign with a 3-1 win in Lagos on 8 March 1980. That victory set the tone for a historic run, with the Super Eagles going on to lift their first continental title.

Across all competitions, the record is firmly tilted in the Super Eagles’ favour. The two sides have met seven times, with the Super Eagles unbeaten, recording four wins and three draws. Nigeria have scored 11 goals in those meetings, conceding just three, underlining a long-standing edge whenever the teams cross paths.

The most recent clashes came during qualification for the 2017 AFCON. Tanzania held Nigeria to a goalless draw in Dar es Salaam in September 2015, but the Super Eagles edged the return fixture 1-0 in Uyo a year later.