Nigeria is set to commence their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign against Tanzania in the opening match of Group C, hosted at the Complexe sportif de Fès. The Super Eagles, who were runners-up in the 2023 AFCON, are eager to secure a victory against the Taifa Stars to begin their quest for progression to the next round.

Nigeria enters the tournament aiming for their fourth AFCON title, having narrowly lost to host Ivory Coast in the final of the previous edition. Their last triumph was 12 years ago, and recent disappointments, including failing to qualify for the FIFA World Cup finals for the second consecutive time, have tempered supporter expectations. Éric Chelle's team faces additional challenges due to significant injuries and recent successive defeats against D.R Congo and Egypt, contributing to a lower-than-usual pre-tournament optimism.

Tanzania, on the other hand, makes their third AFCON finals appearance in the last four editions, having secured their spot by finishing second in Group H qualification with consecutive victories over Ethiopia and Guinea. Despite this achievement, head coach Hemed Suleiman was replaced by Argentine Miguel Gamondi in early November. The latest reports indicate Adel Amrouche is currently at the helm, tasked with guiding the Taifa Stars to their first-ever AFCON victory at the tenth attempt. Their form has been concerning, with no wins in their last seven fixtures and four consecutive losses.

In their head-to-head encounters, Nigeria has historically dominated Tanzania, winning three of their last five matches. The most recent competitive qualifier saw the Super Eagles clinch a 1–0 victory. Tanzania has struggled offensively against Nigeria's defense, failing to score in three of their last five games against them.

For this crucial opener, Nigeria will be without key players Ola Aina and Benjamin Fredrick, both sidelined due to injury and not called up for the AFCON competition. Their probable lineup is expected to be a 4-3-3 formation: Nwabali; Osayi-Samuel, Ajayi, Bassey, Sanusi; Ndidi, Onyeka, Iwobi; Chukwueze, Osimhen, Lookman. Conversely, Tanzania reports no injury concerns, allowing them to field their strongest possible lineup. Their anticipated 4-2-3-1 formation includes: Y. Suleiman; Mnoga, Mwamnyeto, D. Job, M. Husseini; Miroshi, Feisal Salum; Msuva, M'Mombwa, Allarakhia; Samatta.

A significant factor for the Taifa Stars is the cold weather in Morocco. Head coach Adel Amrouche has acknowledged that some of his players are struggling to adapt to the cooler climate in Fes, where they will play their Group C matches. Fes is among the coldest venues, with daytime temperatures around 14°C (57°F) and nighttime lows dropping to approximately 6°C (43°F). Other host cities vary, with Rabat and Casablanca reaching about 18°C (64°F) and Tangier around 15°C (59°F), while Marrakech and Agadir are notably warmer. Amrouche, speaking after a training session in Rabat, stressed the need for adaptation, stating, “It’s not an excuse; it’s part of the job.” He also mentioned that their prior training camp in Cairo was similarly cold. Despite the weather challenges, Amrouche expressed confidence in his team's preparation and the positive spirit within the camp. This upcoming match will be only the second time Tanzania has faced Nigeria at the AFCON, with Nigeria having secured a 3–1 victory in their previous encounter in the 1980 tournament opener.

Considering Nigeria's attacking improvements and Tanzania's recent defensive resilience, the individual quality of the Super Eagles is expected to be the decisive factor. Nigeria possesses superior talent, which should be sufficient to overcome a determined Tanzanian side. The prediction for the match is Nigeria 2-0 Tanzania. Betting tips suggest a full-time result of Nigeria win, both teams to score – No, and Under 2.5 goals.