Nigeria Draw Mozambique In AFCON 2025 Round of 16 Fixture

Nigeria Draw Mozambique In AFCON 2025 Round of 16 Fixture 

By Niyi Busari 

Super Eagles are to face Mozambique in the Round of 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

With one group match remaining, Mozambique have emerged as the strongest of the potential third-placed teams Nigeria could meet in the knockout phase. The Mambas recorded one win and one defeat in their opening two matches, finishing with three points—enough to rank them above other third-placed contenders.

Nigeria, meanwhile, have enjoyed a commanding start to the tournament, collecting six points from their first two Group C fixtures. The Super Eagles are heavy favourites to finish top of the group and need only to avoid defeat against Uganda in their final group match on Tuesday, December 30, to secure first place.

Under the AFCON competition format, the top two teams from each of the six groups qualify automatically for the knockout stage, along with the four best third-placed teams, completing the Round of 16 line-up.

CAF fixtures stipulate that the winners of Group C will face one of the best-performing third-placed teams from Groups A, B or F. With Group A and Group B fixtures already concluded, Comoros and Angola finished third in their respective groups with two points each, having drawn two matches and lost one. Neither side accumulated enough points to challenge for a place among the best third-placed teams.

Mozambique, currently third in Group F with three points from two matches, therefore stand out as Nigeria’s likely opponents. The Southern Africans are scheduled to play Cameroon in their final group game on December 31st, but have already secured qualification for the knockout stage regardless of the result.

Elsewhere, Zambia’s hopes of progressing were effectively ended after a heavy 3–0 defeat to tournament hosts and title favourites Morocco. Angola also failed to advance despite holding Egypt to a 0–0 draw in their final group match, finishing with just two points.

The Round of 16 encounter between Nigeria and Mozambique is scheduled for January 5, 2026, at the Fez Stadium, with kick-off set for 8:00 pm.