Nigeria won the previous clash in 1980, triumphing 1-0 with Felix Owolabi scoring the winner in the 9th minute en route to their first title. In the knockout rounds at AFCON, Nigeria have faced hosts five times, winning only once against Mali in the 2002 third-place match. · Have scored in their last 12 AFCON matches, last failing to score in the Round of 16 loss to Tunisia in 2021. · Victory would see Nigeria reach a ninth AFCON Final and their second consecutive finals after 1988 and 1990. · Victory would take them to a second final and their first in over 21 years.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 12, 2026 11:50 UTC