NIGERIA’S PROJECTED STARTING XI FOR NIGERIA VS TANZANIA

Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations 2025 campaign gets underway when they take on Tanzania in their opening match in Group C, a fixture that marks the Super Eagles’ first step in their quest for continental glory.

As one of Africa’s traditional heavyweight sides, Nigeria enter the tournament among the favourites to eventually lift the AFCON trophy, and they will be hoping to make a statement victory against Tanzania that sets the tone for the rest of their campaign.

Scheduled to kick-off on Tuesday evening, attention is now beginning to turn to the starting XI that head coach Eric Chelle will select for this crucial opener, with squad balance, recent form and tactical approach all likely to influence his final decision.

In this article, we will be looking at exactly that, taking a closer look at what Nigeria’s starting XI against Tanzania could be:

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali produced a string of unconvincing performances during Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying campaign, but with Maduka Okoye preferring to stay at home in order to focus on his club duties with Udinese, Nwabali is expected to remain as Nigeria’s number one goalkeeper.

In defence, Benjamin Fredrick had quickly emerged as one of Nigeria’s key players in recent months, but the 20-year-old full-back misses out on AFCON due to a knee injury that will keep him out until the new year, while 2023 AFCON MVP and captain William Troost-Ekong retired just before the tournament.

As a result, Bright Osayi-Samuel is likely to be the Super Eagles’ starting right-back, with Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey and Zaidu Sanusi making up the rest of the backline.

Further forward, Chelle has, on occasion, started a very attacking-focused midfield and frontline, particularly against teams that are Nigeria are expected to dominate the ball and stamp their authority over.

That was most recently the case in their eventual 4-1 win over Gabon in the CAF World Cup qualifying semi-finals, and with the Super Eagles certainly the favourites against Tanzania – while they will also be looking to make a statement win – Chelle could name a similarly attacking team.

As a result, Wilfred Ndidi is expected to serve as Nigeria’s main defensive cover in midfield, while Moses Simon and Alex Iwobi could play in slightly more advanced midfield positions, with a sensational attacking line-up of Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.

Nigeria Predicted Starting XI vs Tanzania:

GK – Stanley Nwabali

RB – Bright Osayi-Samuel

CB – Semi Ajayi

CB – Calvin Bassey

LB – Zaidu Sanusi

DM – Wilfred Ndidi

CM – Moses Simon

CM – Alex Iwobi

RW – Samuel Chukwueze

ST – Victor Osimhen

LW – Ademola Lookman