AFCON 2025: Tanzania coach reveals his players are suffering from cold ahead of Super Eagles clash

Tanzania head coach Adel Amrouche has acknowledged that some of his players are finding it difficult to adapt to the cold weather in Morocco as they prepare for their opening match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) against Nigeria’s Super Eagles.

The Taifa Stars will begin their Group C campaign on Tuesday in Fes, a city known for its cooler climate compared to other Moroccan host venues.

Alongside Nigeria, Tanzania will also face the 2004 champions Tunisia in what is expected to be a demanding group.

Weather conditions across Morocco are expected to play a role in the tournament, particularly for teams more accustomed to warmer climates. While most host cities will see daytime temperatures between 15–20°C (59–68°F), nights are forecast to be significantly colder.

Fes, where Nigeria will also play all their group matches, is among the coldest venues. Daytime temperatures are expected to peak at around 14°C (57°F), with nighttime lows dropping to approximately 6°C (43°F).

Other host cities will experience slightly milder conditions. Rabat and Casablanca are forecast to reach daytime highs of about 18°C (64°F), while Tangier will hover around 15°C (59°F). By comparison, Marrakech and Agadir are notably warmer.

Speaking after a training session at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Rabat, Amrouche admitted that the conditions have been challenging for some of his players but stressed that the team must adapt.

He said, “It’s not a problem because the weather is the same for everybody. We are indeed more adapted to hot and warm temperatures, and some players are suffering a bit from the cold, but we need to adapt. Even in Cairo, during our training camp, it was cold. It’s not an excuse; it’s part of the job.”

Tanzania has been preparing in Rabat, where temperatures are milder than in Fes but still cooler than what many of the players are used to back home.

Despite the weather concerns, the Algerian coach expressed confidence in his team’s preparation and praised the atmosphere within the camp.

He added, “Our preparation is good, and the conditions here are excellent. We are working as hard as possible to prepare the team in the best way. The spirit in the camp is very good. We are very happy and excited to represent Tanzania in this Africa Cup of Nations.”

Tuesday’s clash will mark only the second time Tanzania have faced Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations. Their previous meeting came in the opening match of the 1980 tournament, where the Super Eagles secured a 3–1 victory.