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Tanzania head coach Miguel Gamondi has said that defeating Nigeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) would feel as significant as winning the tournament itself, as his side continues its search for a first-ever AFCON victory.
The Taifa Stars will face the Super Eagles on Tuesday in Morocco, hoping to end their long winless run at the continental competition.
“It’s our dream, and nobody can stop us from believing and dreaming,” Gamondi said during his pre-match press conference.
“If you don’t have a dream, it doesn’t make sense to sleep too much. I respect Nigeria a lot, but in football, anything is possible. We are here to make a good performance.”
The coach admitted Nigeria’s superior pedigree but insisted his side was not resigned to defeat.
“I’m very realistic about the possibilities. Maybe Nigeria have 99 per cent, but you never know.”
“I am confident we can do something. If we do what we need to do and are able to win, beating Nigeria would feel like winning the AFCON for us, especially at the start of the tournament.”
Taifa Stars have appeared at three AFCON tournaments 1980, 2019 and 2023 but are yet to record a win, having gone nine matches without victory. Their Group C opener against the Super Eagles will mark Tanzania’s 10th AFCON game as they continue their quest for a historic first win at the competition.
Tuesday’s clash at the Complexe Sportif de Fès will be the second AFCON meeting between Nigeria and Tanzania, 45 years after their first encounter. That match came at the 1980 tournament in Nigeria, where the Super Eagles claimed a 3-1 victory in the opening game.
The two sides last met during the qualifiers for the 2017 AFCON, drawing 0-0 in Dar es Salaam before Nigeria secured a narrow 1-0 win in the return leg in Uyo on September 3, 2016.
After Tuesday’s opener against Nigeria, Tanzania will face Uganda in their second Group C match on Friday before concluding their group campaign against Tunisia next Tuesday.
The Taifa Stars made their AFCON debut in 1980 on Nigerian soil, where they suffered three group-stage defeats, beginning with a 3-1 loss to the Super Eagles, followed by defeats to Egypt and Ivory Coast.
They returned to the tournament in 2019 under the guidance of former Super Eagles winger Emmanuel Amuneke after a 39-year absence, but once again exited without a win, losing to Senegal, Kenya and Algeria.
At the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, Tanzania showed signs of improvement, securing draws against Zambia and DR Congo after an opening loss to Morocco.
