The co-hosts have already qualified for AFCON 2027, but Tanzania say they will fight for a result against a Nigeria side that badly needs the win.
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Tanzania Football Federation official Almasi Kasongo has insisted that the Taifa Stars are not intimidated by the Super Eagles, as FootballInNigeria.com.ng reports. The two sides meet in a Group L qualifier for AFCON 2027 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday.
“We are not scared,” Kasongo told reporters after the Tanzanian party reached Uyo. He accepted that Nigeria have quality and pedigree, but said football is decided over 90 minutes. He added that Tanzania have local and foreign based players good enough for the task.
Tanzania lost 2-0 to Guinea-Bissau and drew 1-1 in Madagascar, which leaves them on one point. As co-hosts of the 2027 finals, they have already qualified. New Bet9ja users can look up Bet9ja’s YOHAIG bonus code before kick-off.
Nigeria sit second in the group with three points, three behind Guinea-Bissau, and need the win in Uyo to stay in the race for the one open place. The Eagles beat Madagascar 2-1 and then lost 3-0 in Bissau. They have also gone five games without a clean sheet.
Both camps have had logistical headaches. Reports said flight changes delayed the Super Eagles, with no player in Uyo by Monday evening. Many of Eric Chelle’s Europe-based players were also expected to join after their weekend club games.
Nigeria are favourites, with seven wins and four draws from 11 meetings. They won the most recent one 2-1 in the 2025 AFCON group stage. Fans can predict Friday’s score on Super9ja before kick-off.
Tanzania will be without Clement Mzize and Dickson Job, who withdrew through injury. Azam FC winger Iddi Nado was called up as a replacement.
Kick off in Uyo is at 5:00pm WAT on Friday, November 13. The return leg follows on Tuesday, November 17, in Tanzania.
Confidence is cheap before a ball is kicked. Can Tanzania turn Kasongo’s words into a result? Readers new to betting can see the Bet9ja promo offers before the weekend.
For Nigeria, the task is simple: win, and win well. Anything less would turn a comfortable-looking fixture into a problem.
📌 Did You Know?
- Tanzania have named 24 players for the Uyo game and the return leg.
- Turkey based defender Chibuike Nwaiwu and Czechia based wing back Abdullahi Bewene are among Nigeria’s invitees.
- At the 1980 AFCON in Nigeria, the hosts beat Tanzania 3-1 in the tournament’s opening match.
- Nigeria’s win over Madagascar in September was also played in Uyo.
- After the Tanzania double header, Nigeria still have an away game at Madagascar and a home game against Guinea-Bissau on March 28, 2027.
