We’re right into the mix of things at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday, with four fixtures spread across host nation Morocco on day three of the tournament.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles kick off against Tanzania and Tunisia meet Uganda in Group C.
Group D promises no shortage of drama, too, with Senegal starting their campaign against Botswana and DR Congo going up against Benin.
*All kick off times are in Central Africa Time.
Group C: Nigeria vs Tanzania – 19.30
It’s a big day at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday, as Nigeria make their tournament entrance when they take on Tanzania in Fes.
The Super Eagles are hunting a fourth Afcon title in Morocco and a first since they lifted the trophy in South Africa in 2013.
It’s also a bid to go one better than their runners-up finish in 2023, as Malian coach Eric Chelle leads his side into a major tournament for the first time since taking charge at the start of the year.
Qualifying wasn’t plain sailing but they did just enough to edge out Benin, Rwanda and Libya to top Group D.
Victor Osimhen will expect to be one of the players of the tournament, in a squad that boasts plenty of experience elsewhere in the likes of Alex Iwobi and William Troost-Ekong.
They open up against minnows Tanzania, who squeaked through qualifying by a single point as runners-up in Group H to reach the competition proper for only the fourth time.
The Taifa Stars are still looking for the first Afcon win having never made it out of the group stage.
A clutch of domestically-based players set out to change that against their illustrious opponents, led by recently-appointed Argentinian coach Miguel Gamondi.
Group C: Tunisia vs Uganda – 22.00
Tunisia and Uganda enter the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fray when they meet in Rabat on Tuesday night.
The pair are eyeing up a likely scramble for second place in Group C behind heavyweights Nigeria, meaning three points either way in the opener could prove vital.
Sami Trabelsi’s north African nation are familiar faces at the continental showpiece and won their only title in 2004, although they did manage a fourth-placed finish at the 2019 event.
The Carthage Eagles needed to win their final qualifying game to make it through to Morocco, though.
Victory over minnows Madagascar by the only goal ensured safe passage behind Comoros and ahead of Gambia.
They go up against a Uganda side making their first Afcon appearance since 2019.
That in itself was only the second run out on the big stage – the other coming in 2017 – since the Cranes finished as runners-up all the way back in 1978.
Qualification was impressive as they were only edged out by South Africa in Group K, coming through ahead of Congo and South Sudan.
Veteran Belgian Paul Put leads the Ugandans, with a commitment to substance over style.
Group D: DR Congo vs Benin – 14.30
DR Congo and Benin kick off Group D at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations when they meet on Tuesday at the Stade el Barid in Rabat.
Having recently earned a shot at qualifying for the 2026 Fifa World Cup in dramatic playoff fashion, it’s an instant chance for the Congolese to stamp their authority on the continental stage.
They have solid recent pedigree, too, having steadily improved under coach Sebastien Desabre to record a fourth-placed finish in 2023.
The Leopards contrived to lose to both also-rans Guinea and Ethiopia in Afcon qualifying, but still scraped home at the top of Group H ahead of Tanzania.
Benin return to the tournament for the first time since 2019 – and managed to do so by the slimmest of margins.
The Cheetahs could only be split from Rwanda by head-to-head goal difference in qualifying Group D, with the pair locked on eight points apiece behind Nigeria and ahead of Libya.
But in former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr they have a wily old campaigner, giving them a shot at repeating their quarter-final efforts of six years ago.
Group D: Senegal vs Botswana – 17.00
Senegal and Botswana face off in Group D at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations at Tangier’s Grand Stade on Tuesday.
The Lions of Teranga are out to erase the memories of their Round of 16 exit in 2023, as the defence of their 2021 Afcon title crumbled.
They came through qualifying Group L with a minimum of fuss this time around, dropping just two points as they won five games from six to outdo Burkina Faso, Burundi and Malawi.
Veteran Sadio Mane will always catch the eye, but they’re no one-man show.
Iliman Ndiaye is emerging as a worthy pretender to Mane’s throne, while they have the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly to rely on at the back.
Which will make for quite the introduction for Botswana, who take on Africa’s finest for only the second time, having made their only previous Cup of Nations appearance in 2012.
Ranked 138 in the Fifa world ladder, the Zebras have it all to do if they are even to register a maiden tournament point in Morocco.
A win over shock Fifa World Cup qualifiers Cape Verde in the final round of qualifying fixtures saw them sneak through Group C behind mighty Egypt and ahead of Mauritania, in spite of their -3 goal difference.
Nigeria vs Tanzania
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| First to score | Nigeria |
| Over/Under Prediction | Under 2.5 goals |
| HT/FT Prediction | Nigeria / Nigeria |
| Team to score prediction | Nigeria |
| Result prediction | Nigeria to win |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) |
Tunisia vs Uganda
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| First to score | Uganda |
| Over/Under Prediction | Under 2.5 goals |
| HT/FT Prediction | Draw / Draw |
| Team to score prediction | Uganda |
| Result prediction | Draw |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | None |
Senegal vs Botswana
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| First to score | Senegal |
| Over/Under Prediction | Under 2.5 goals |
| HT/FT Prediction | Draw / Senegal |
| Team to score prediction | Senegal |
| Result prediction | Senegal to win |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | N/A |
Congo DR vs Benin
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| First to score | Congo DR |
| Over/Under Prediction | Under 2.5 goals |
| HT/FT Prediction | Draw / Congo DR |
| Team to score prediction | Congo DR |
| Result prediction | Congo DR to win |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | N/A |