Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign reaches a defining moment on Monday as the Super Eagles face Mozambique in a do-or-die Round of 16 encounter, with a place in the quarter-finals firmly at stake.
Having negotiated the group phase with confidence, Nigeria enter the knockout stage carrying both momentum and expectation.
The Super Eagles showed tactical maturity and attacking clarity in the opening rounds, moreover demonstrating an ability to control games without sacrificing defensive structure.
Mozambique, however, arrive with little pressure and plenty of belief.
The Mambas exceeded projections to reach the last 16, hence emerging as one of the tournament’s quieter success stories.
Their progress has been built on collective organisation, rapid transitions, and a willingness to exploit moments of hesitation from opponents.
From a tactical standpoint, Nigeria are expected to dictate possession and press high up the pitch, seeking early control.
Mozambique are likely to respond with a compact setup, prioritising discipline while looking to strike on the break or from dead-ball situations.
Nevertheless, knockout football often pivots on fine margins rather than dominance.
A single defensive lapse, a moment of brilliance, or a lapse in concentration could tilt the contest decisively.
Furthermore, Nigeria must balance ambition with patience to avoid exposing themselves unnecessarily.
As the match unfolds, the narrative is clear. Victory would keep Nigeria’s AFCON ambitions firmly alive and reinforce their status as contenders.
Conversely, success for Mozambique would rank among the competition’s standout upsets, underlining the unforgiving nature of tournament football where, truly, it is all or nothing.