AFCON: Sunday Oliseh outlines Nigeria’s tactical blueprint for Round of 16

Nigeria legend and former head coach Sunday Oliseh has urged the Super Eagles to trade flair for functionality when they face Mozambique in their 2025 AFCON Round of 16 showdown this Monday in Fes.

While the Super Eagles cruised through Group C with a perfect record, Oliseh—speaking on his YouTube channel, Global Football Insight—warned that the “beauty” of their group-stage performances will mean nothing if they fail to adapt to the ruthless nature of knockout football.

Results Over Romance At AFCON

Despite Nigeria entering the tie as heavy favourites, Oliseh insists that the tactical approach must shift from expansion to execution. For the former captain, the margin for error has officially vanished.

“We’re clear favourites against Mozambique, but Nigeria has to play in a totally different way,” Oliseh cautioned. “It’s not important how beautiful you play; what matters now is the result. If you lose, you go home.”

Oliseh pointed to the team’s performance against Uganda as the blueprint for success, calling for a “compact” defensive shape that stifles the opposition before striking on the transition.

Respecting the Mambas

Mozambique progressed as one of the best third-placed teams from Group F with three points, and while they may lack Nigeria’s star power, Oliseh warned against any hint of complacency.

“Mozambique are a very good team; it won’t be an easy match,” he said. “We can’t afford to take them for granted. If we do, we will be taking our flight tickets back home. Beating them will boost our self-belief and keep the momentum going.”

Nigeria arrives in the knockout phase as the tournament’s form team, one of only two nations to secure a maximum nine points in the group stage. Conversely, Eric Chelle’s Mozambique side has struggled defensively, failing to keep a single clean sheet and conceding in every fixture so far.

Match Pulse:

Venue: Fes, Morocco

Date: Monday, Jan 5, 2026

Stake: A spot in the AFCON Quarter-finals