Super Eagles vs Tanzania: 3 reasons Taifa Stars believe they can shock Nigeria in Uyo

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will face Tanzania’s Taifa Stars on Friday, with the visitors arriving in Uyo confident they can cause an upset in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying clash.

Head coach Miguel Gamondi’s men will take on Nigeria at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on November 13, with kick-off scheduled for 5:00 pm Nigerian time.

Nigeria are favourites, having won seven of their previous 11 meetings with Tanzania. The other four ended in draws. Eric Chelle’s side also beat the Taifa Stars 2-1 in the group stage of the 2025 AFCON.

However, Tanzania are not short of confidence ahead of Friday’s encounter. Three factors explain why they believe they can give the Super Eagles a difficult afternoon in Uyo.

Why Taifa Stars are confident of beating Chelle’s Super Eagles

1. Almasi Kasongo is not afraid of Nigeria

Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) official Almasi Kasongo has insisted that the Taifa Stars have no fear of facing Nigeria, despite the quality and experience in the Super Eagles squad.

Speaking to reporters after the Tanzanian delegation arrived in Uyo, Kasongo acknowledged Nigeria’s pedigree but said his team were ready for the challenge.

“We are not scared. Football is a game of 90 minutes. We know the quality of Nigeria’s players and their pedigree. We are well prepared,” he said, per Daily Post.

Kasongo’s comments suggest Tanzania will not be intimidated by Nigeria’s reputation or their record against the East Africans.

The Taifa Stars lost 2-1 to the Super Eagles at the 2025 AFCON but believe they can get a better result this time.

2. Tanzania have a balanced squad and have prepared for the challenge

Gamondi initially named 24 players for the double-header, with 12 based in Tanzania and 12 playing abroad.

Young Africans and Azam FC supplied five players each, while the foreign-based contingent includes Novatus Miroshi of Göztepe, Bernard Kamongo of FC Dallas and Cyprian Kachwele of Kryvbas.

Tanzania suffered two late injury withdrawals, with Young Africans pair Clement Mzize and Dickson Job ruled out. However, Gamondi still has several experienced players available for the trip.

The visitors also made an early journey to Nigeria to give their players time to recover and adjust to the conditions in Uyo. Their arrival was delayed by flight scheduling problems between Abuja and Uyo, but the team eventually held its first training session on Tuesday evening.

Tanzania have already qualified for the 2027 AFCON as co-hosts alongside Kenya and Uganda. They can therefore use these qualifying matches to test themselves against strong opposition ahead of the tournament.

That takes some of the pressure off Gamondi’s team, who can approach Friday’s match without worrying about their own qualification prospects.

3. Super Eagles’ poor form has given the visitors confidence

Nigeria’s recent results offer Tanzania another reason to believe they can get something from Friday’s match.

The Super Eagles missed out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup after losing to DR Congo in the African play-off final.

Their AFCON qualifying campaign has also started badly. Chelle’s side opened with a 2-1 win over Madagascar in Uyo before suffering a shock 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau.

That defeat exposed Nigeria’s defensive problems and their struggles against well-organised opponents.

The absence of Victor Osimhen is another setback. The Galatasaray striker will miss this must-win Tanzania double-header, leaving Chelle to rely on Taiwo Awoniyi, Tolu Arokodare and Akor Adams in attack.

Nigeria have also struggled to find consistency in midfield, while the problems within the Nigeria Football Federation have added to the pressure surrounding the team.

Tanzania will know about these weaknesses and could look to take advantage.

The Super Eagles have enough quality to win on Friday, but they will need a much better performance than the one that saw them lose to Guinea-Bissau. Otherwise, the visitors could leave Uyo with a result.