AFCON 2025 Preview: Group C

AFCON 2025 Preview: Group C

Nigeria forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman

AFCON 2025 Preview: Group C

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is upon us with kickoff in Morocco set for December 21! Pan-Africa Football is previewing each group and our next preview continues with Group C, which will see Nigeria, Tunisia as well as East African powers Uganda and Tanzania battle for places in the knockout stages.

 

Nigeria

 

Introduction

 

Times are certainly not good for one of Africa’s biggest historical powerhouses. A much-publicized failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup is the product of a gradual decline in the quality of Nigerian football as the national team depends more and more on dual national players while its youth development suffers. Coach Eric Chelle’s squad brought plenty of surprises to Nigerian supporters, with a mix of experienced and young players that makes it unclear what exactly the objective is in Morocco.

This team can turn it on under pressure as seen in the 2023 AFCON when they reached the final against expectations. However, the Super Eagles rely far too much on star striker Victor Osimhen. While there remains plenty of talent in the team and players who are thriving at high levels in European club football, there is a clear lack of leadership and this group lacks the consistency to be labeled a contender in Morocco.

 

AFCON Record

 

Appearances20
Best FinishChampions (1980, 1994, 2013)
Last Appearance2023- Runners-up

 

Key Players

 

Victor Osimhen (Club: Galatasaray [TUR])

 

The explosive striker’s extended absences due to injury have had a severe impact on Nigeria’s fortunes but he continues to be an inspirational force for the Super Eagles when healthy. Unlike the 2019 edition, when his absence was felt as Nigeria crashed out to Tunisia in the Round of 16, Osimhen will be healthy and in full form when he arrives in Morocco. But the Galatasaray striker has not been able to hide his frustration at the lack of support and he has not proven himself to be a leader who can inspire his teammates to perform better.

 

Calvin Bassey (Fulham [ENG])

 

The Italian-born defender is one of the few players who can claim that they are performing to the best of their abilities with the Super Eagles. A standout player during Nigeria’s surprise run to the final of the 2023 AFCON, that tournament marked a breakout for Bassey and he is now the most important member of the Nigerian defense. The powerful left footed defender will be tasked with shutting down the opposition’s best forward and Super Eagles supporters can be confident he will do the job.

 

Ademola Lookman (Atalanta [ITA])

 

Watching the tricky forward operate these days, it is difficult to remember that he is the reigning African Player of the Year. An extended transfer saga over the summer with club Atalanta stretched into the 2025-26 season, leaving him out of the squad until he returned in late September. Since then, he has been a shadow of the player who scored twenty goals in all competitions last season for the Italian club. Lookman is finally starting to show signs of recovery but his recent performances for Nigeria have been abysmal.

 

X-Factor

 

Alex Iwobi (Fulham [ENG])

The Fulham midfielder has always shown a high level of pride and commitment to represent Nigeria but something has been missing from his performances in recent years. Iwobi provides capable performances but he is not living up to high expectations that are demanded of a player who regularly plays at the level he does in the English Premier League. Iwobi has not scored a goal for Nigeria since 2023 AFCON qualifying and he needs to provide more goal contributions as the midfield playmaker for the Super Eagles.

 

Tunisia

 

 

Introduction

In African football, the Tunisia national team is a well known quantity. Always solid, particularly in defense, the main issue is that the Eagles of Carthage have a high floor but a low ceiling that prevents them from reaching the final stages of the AFCON since hosting and winning the 2004 edition. In their last ten AFCON appearances, they have reached the quarterfinals six times and finished fourth in 2019.

The reality is that this team is doing little to suggest that it will be any different this time around. The search continues for a reliable striker with few capable candidates while the central midfield and defense remains experienced and solid.

 

AFCON Record

 

Appearances21
Best FinishChampions (2004)
Last Appearance2023- Group Stage

 

Key Players

 

Montassar Talbi (Lorient [FRA])

 

The central defender is enjoying his time in France since moving to Ligue 1 club Lorient from Russian club Rubin Kazan ahead of the 2022-23 season. After enduring relegation to Ligue 2, Talbi remained a key player to help the club bounce back to the top flight and he is playing the best football of his career currently. A reliable and disciplined player who is a solid presence whether he is defending on the ground or on aerial duels, Talbi is the best option in a strong defensive unit.

 

Ali Abdi (Nice [FRA])

 

The fullback position is another strength for the Carthage Eagles and Abdi is an excellent attacker down the left flank. The former Club Africain player is now in his eighth season in French club football where he has steadily improved year after year. Watch out for Abdi’s crossing ability and his forays into the final third where he is a capable finisher, making him perhaps Tunisia’s most consistent and capable attackers when he gets forward.

 

Hannibal Mejbri (Burnley [ENG])

 

A highly regarded player for the future of the Tunisia team due to spending his early career with AS Monaco and Manchester United, the 2021 AFCON and 2022 World Cup came a bit too early for the central midfielder to be fully trusted. However, a transfer to Burnley ahead of the 2024-25 season allowed Hannibal to earn regular playing time and he is noticeably a more confident and assured player after helping Burnley earn promotion to the English Premier League. The 2025 AFCON is a perfect opportunity for him to display his dynamic playing style and show everyone how far he has come after failing to make the grade at United.

 

X-Factor

 

Ismaël Gharbi (Augsburg [GER])

 

Possessing a strong youth pedigree from his time with Paris Saint-Germain, Gharbi’s decision to commit to Tunisia after playing at the youth level with Spain and France has generated excitement among Tunisian supporters. The ongoing FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar has provided an excellent stage for Gharbi to gain experience ahead of the AFCON and the winger certainly has the ability to spark the Tunisian attack. In a team that has few exciting attacking options, the 21-year-old has plenty of potential to make an impact sooner rather than later.

 

Uganda

 

 

Introduction

 

The Cranes continue to gradually progress when it comes to youth development but like their East African peers Tanzania and Kenya, they still have come nowhere near to showing they can hang with the top nations from North Africa, West Africa and Southern Africa. Uganda surprised observers by reaching the Round of 16 at the 2019 edition but they failed to follow up on that accomplishment.

This time around, the Cranes have put their efforts into recruiting dual nationals to boost their cause with players like former Reading left back Jordan Obita and former Werder Bremen striker Melvyn Lorentzen. Combined with talented young playmakers Allan Okello and Travis Mutyaba, Ugandan supporters have reason for hope but have yet to prove they are capable of impressing outside of home fixtures in AFCON and World Cup qualifying.

 

AFCON Record

 

Appearances7
Best FinishRunners-up (1978)
Last Appearance2019- Round of 16

Players to Watch

 

Allan Okello (Vipers SC [UGA])

 

The 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) was East Africa’s moment in the spotlight and Okello may have been the player who utilized this opportunity the best. The diminutive and creative attacker is a set piece specialist who took on the label of being the Cranes superstar as they reached the quarterfinals of the CHAN back in August. After making an unsuccessful move early in his club career to Algeria, the 25-year-old returned to Ugandan football with top club Vipers where he continues to dominate lesser competition.

 

Khalid Aucho (Singida Black Stars [TZA])

 

The defensive midfielder is an important leader for the Cranes and an imposing figure in the middle of the park. Aucho will keep things simple when it comes to passing and will focus on providing additional support for the defensive line when Uganda are underdogs against the likes of Tunisia and Nigeria in their group. Where his greatest strengths lie for this team are his experience and leadership.

 

Jordan Obita (Hibernian [SCO])

 

 

A dual national recruit who signed on to represent Uganda earlier this year, the 32-year-old native of Oxford, England took on an important role immediately. Known from his club career as a versatile player on the left flank, Obita is featuring more in the center of the defense these days and that appears to be his role for the Cranes. His technical ability is a valuable addition for Uganda where he is a natural distributor in the back for a team that can struggle at times to pass out of the back.

 

X-Factor

 

Travis Mutyaba (CS Sfaxien [TUN])

 

Similarly to Okello, Mutyaba is a diminutive attacking midfielder who captivated the local football scene during his early years with entertaining displays for popular Ugandan club SC Villa. After brief stops abroad with Egypt’s Zamalek (on loan) and Girondins Bordeaux while the French club were in the lower divisions, now he is at Tunisian club CS Sfaxien. Mutyaba, a talented dribbler who has been heralded as Uganda’s best young talent for years now, can make a massive difference in Morocco if he and Okello can provide opposing defenders with two playmakers to contain.

 

Tanzania

 

Introduction

 

The Taifa Stars are at a point where supporters are not just satisfied with reaching the AFCON finals…they want results now. However, there is little evidence to suggest that Tanzania are capable of competing with Africa’s top nations, especially when it comes to scoring goals.

 

The defense continues to be solid for the East African nation but in the attack, the Taifa Stars are relying on the same sources for goals. Mbwana Samatta and Simon Nsuva are well over 30 years old at this point and they combined to score all the goals in the nation’s last two AFCON appearances (2023 and 2019). A disappointing 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) a few months back was not encouraging but the positive is that Tanzania has been drawn with neighbors Uganda, a match which presents an excellent opportunity for their first-ever AFCON victory.

 

AFCON Record

 

Appearances3
Best FinishGroup Stage (1980, 2019, 2023)
Last Appearance2023- Group Stage

 

Key Players

 

Dickson Job (Young Africans [TZA])

The centerpiece of a strong Tanzanian defense, the Young Africans star continues to stand as a top domestic talent in the Tanzania Mainland Premier League. A fierce man-marker who is trusted with the duties of distributing from the back, Job is a player who could potentially earn a transfer abroad if he performs to his usual level at the finals in Morocco. If the center back can lead his team to strong performances against Nigeria and Tunisia, that may be the final requirement for a European club to make their move.

 

Feisal Salum (Azam FC [TZA])

 

Similarly to Job, the attacking midfielder popularly known as “Fei Toto” is a proven superstar in Tanzania’s top flight league but has yet to translate his success to a bigger stage. A member of the Taifa Stars in their last two AFCON appearances at the 2019 and 2023 editions, he failed to do much and the 2025 tournament in Morocco may be his best and perhaps final opportunity to impress. His clever passing and eye for goal are clear to see for observers but Salum needs to prove that he is more than just a local legend.

 

Novatus Miroshi (Goztepe [TUR])

 

The talented central midfielder took the road less traveled compared to many Tanzanian footballers, leaving local club Azam FC to pursue a club career in Europe. After stops in Israel and Belgium, hard work and patience has rewarded the 23-year-old who is now competing regularly in the top flight of Turkish football. It appears that Miroshi will be utilized as a shield for the Tanzanian defense, where he can lie deeper in the heart of the midfield and be a capable passer to allow playmakers like Feisal Salum and Charles M’Mombwa to focus on creating for the attack.

 

X-Factor

 

Kelvin John (Aalborg BK [DEN])

 

A player who was a victim of too much hype at the beginning of his professional career, the exciting forward has the potential to spark a stagnant Taifa Stars attack. Leaving for Europe as a youth, a failed spell at Belgian club Genk led to an opportunity for playing time at AaB Aalborg in Denmark, where he is finally getting an opportunity to boost his development. The 22-year-old remains largely unproven and has not set the Danish second tier on fire, but the individual moments of brilliance he has shown make him an unpredictable element that Tanzania and its supporters dearly need.

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AFCON 2025 Preview
Nigeria
Tanzania
Tunisia
Uganda

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