Professor Palamagamba Kabudi, Tanzania’s Minister of Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, has issued a challenge to the Taifa Stars to grasp the opportunity and make history at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), beginning with a crucial match against Nigeria.
The Group C match, which is set for December 23 at Morocco’s Fez Stadium, is particularly important for Tanzania. The two countries will play each other in an AFCON group stage match for the second time, 46 years after their first encounter. At the then-Lagos National Stadium in Surulere, Nigeria won that previous encounter 3-1 on March 8, 1980.
During the formal national flag transfer ceremony in Cairo, Kabudi gave a speech in which he urged the players to approach the competition with discipline, solidarity, and a strong feeling of patriotism.
Tanzania advanced to the quarterfinals of the Africa Nations Championship without losing. That set a national record and was remarkable. “I implore you to put up a strong fight and create history once more at AFCON,” Kabudi remarked.
Nigeria and Tanzania have played each other five times in all competitions. The other two encounters were in draws, but Nigeria has won three.
In addition to Nigeria, Tanzania’s group campaign will start a new competition in East Africa. They will play Uganda for the first time in an AFCON group stage. Tanzania has only won five of the 22 matches between the neighbors, while Uganda has won 13.
Tanzania will play Tunisia, a well-known rival who defeated them 1-0 in their most recent encounter during the 2021 AFCON qualifiers, to complete their Group C matches.
Kabudi further affirmed that the Moroccan team will have clear support from the government. In order to build morale and make sure the players experience the full support of the country as they pursue a historic campaign, he disclosed that Deputy Minister Paul Makonda and other high-ranking officials will travel with the team.
