Nigeria vs Mozambique prediction 05.01.2026 | Africa Cup of Nations

Nigeria, three-time AFCON winner and runner-up in the previous tournament, have been one of the teams that pretty much always make deep runs, having three titles, five second-place finishes, and eight third-place finishes. However, on the global stage, their results have been underwhelming, as they failed to qualify for the last World Cup and the upcoming one in North America. The popular Super Eagles finished second in the Group and eventually got eliminated from the Playoffs by DR Congo. 

In the ongoing AFCON, the Super Eagles did well, winning all three games. However, they were the favorites in each, and good results were expected. After securing the knockout phase, coach Éric Chelle spoke to the media. He was very pleased with the squad's performance and depth. However, despite all three wins, the coach stressed that they have areas where they need to improve. "The round of 16 is a lot of pressure, for sure, but I am fascinated by that. Since I arrived, I have had a lot of pressure, and I feel good," the coach added.

Mozambique have never qualified for a World Cup and are appearing at only their sixth AFCON. They have never progressed beyond the group stage before, so reaching the knockout phase already represents a major success and they can be satisfied with how things are going so far. However, we cannot say they were too impressive in the group stage, and are a big underdog in this match for a reason. 

After securing a spot in the knockout phase of AFCON, the coach was delighted. He highlighted the commitment and fighting spirit of his squad. The coach added that they are entering the knockout phase without pressure, stressing that they have to stay calm and confident ahead of the next challenge against Nigeria.