Nigeria won the previous clash in 1980, triumphing 1-0 with Felix Owolabi scoring the winner in the 9th minute en route to their first title. In the knockout rounds at AFCON, Nigeria have faced hosts five times, winning only once against Mali in the 2002 third-place match. · Have scored in their last 12 AFCON matches, last failing to score in the Round of 16 loss to Tunisia in 2021. · Under the 24-team AFCON format, only Senegal (2019, 2021, 2025) and Nigeria (2019, 2023, 2025) have reached three Semi-finals. · Victory would see Nigeria reach a ninth AFCON Final and their second consecutive finals after 1988 and 1990.

Source: Daily Nation January 13, 2026 10:07 UTC