Nigeria vs Mozambique kick-off time: When and where to watch Super Eagles' AFCON knockout showdown

Nigeria will lock horns with Mozambique in only their sixth senior encounter, as both nations compete for a coveted quarter-final berth in the 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals currently unfolding across Morocco.

The Complexe Sportif de Fes, a 35,000-capacity fortress that has served as Nigeria's headquarters throughout their Group C campaign, hosts Monday evening's knockout confrontation, with proceedings commencing at 8pm local time on 5 January.

The Super Eagles swept through the group phase with the force of the harmattan, claiming maximum points from all three fixtures whilst plundering eight goals and conceding four. 

Ademola Lookman and Raphael Onyedika have bagged two goals apiece, with Semi Ajayi, Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Paul Onuachu contributing the remaining strikes.

Mozambique's journey has proven considerably more turbulent. Defeat to defending champions Cote d'Ivoire opened their account before they rallied magnificently to dispatch Gabon. 

Wednesday evening brought a 2-1 reverse against Cameroon's Indomitable Lions, yet their performances earned passage as one of the tournament's best third-placed finishers.

Monday's encounter promises genuine jeopardy. The young Mambas have demonstrated impressive capacity to trade blows with the continent's established powers and extract results from seemingly impossible situations when circumstances demand.

Historical precedent favours Nigeria emphatically. The Super Eagles have prevailed in four of their five previous meetings, including their sole AFCON collision, a comprehensive 3-0 victory in Lubango, Angola during January 2010. 

Nigeria claimed a friendly in Maputo by the odd goal in August 1999 and another exhibition match in Portugal during October 2023 by 3-2, whilst 2010 World Cup qualifying fixtures concluded goalless in Maputo before Nigeria scraped a 1-0 triumph in Abuja, Obinna Nsofor striking five minutes into stoppage time to preserve the nation's World Cup aspirations.

As AFCON 2025 transitions into its knockout phases, the Super Eagles face a high-stakes confrontation against opponents who have already troubled several continental heavyweights despite entering as underdogs.

• Date: Monday, 5 January 2026

• Kick-off: 8:00pm WAT (Nigerian time) | 7:00pm GMT

• Venue: Complexe Sportif de Fès, Morocco

Supporters in Nigeria and internationally can follow the Round of 16 clash through multiple broadcast platforms:

Nigeria: NTA Sports, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), SuperSport (TV & terrestrial coverage)

Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport, Canal+ (pay-television)

The fixture represents Nigeria's most significant test yet, a meeting between unblemished group stage dominance and opponents possessing nothing to lose and everything to prove.