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Goal!
Key moments
Match starts!
The match is underway! The referee blows his whistle to signal the start of play, and the Nigeria vs. Tanzania match on Matchday 3 of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers is now underway at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
Teams on the field
We're all set at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium! The field welcomes the players from Nigeria and Tanzania, who are taking the field for this African Cup of Nations qualifying match. Fans have high expectations for this game. The ball will be rolling in just a few moments.
Substitutes - Tanzania
The visiting team's substitutes are:
28. Zuberi Foba Masudi (🧤), 3. Pascal Lukanima, 8. Charles M'Mombwa, 9. Abdul Suleiman Sopu, 12. Simon Msuva, 19. Selemani Mwalimu, 16. Shekhani Khamis, 23. Iddy Seleman Nado.
Starting XI - Tanzania
13. Aishi Manula (🧤), 2. Haji Mnoga, 4. Ibrahim Hamad, 24. Bakari Mwamnyeto, 15. Anthony Mligo; 17. Alphonce Msanga, 20. Novatus Miroshi, 7. Himid Mao; 21. Cyprian Kachwele, 11. Kibu Denis, 22. Nathaniel Chilambo.
Coach: Miguel Gamondi.
Substitutes - Nigeria
1. Francis Uzoho (🧤), 16. Arthur Okonkwo (🧤), 3. Bruno Onyemaechi, 6. Semi Ajayi, 12. Bright Osayi-Samuel, 13. Chibuike Nwaiwu, 8. Samson Tijani, 10. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, 9. Tolu Arokodare, 11. Moses Usor, 15. Moses Simon, 19. Taiwo Awoniyi.
Starting XI - Nigeria
23. Stanley Nwabali (🧤); 20. Abdullahi Bewene, 5. Benjamin Fredrick, 21. Calvin Bassey, 2. Ola Aina; 14. Alhassan Yusuf, 17. Alex Iwobi, 4. Wilfred Ndidi, 18. Tochukwu Nnadi; 22. Akor Adams, 7. Ademola Lookman.
Coach: Eric Chelle.
Final field check ahead of Nigeria vs Tanzania
Players are on site at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium as Nigeria and Tanzania get ready for action in AFCON 2027 Qualifiers.
All set at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium
Everything is ready at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium. The field is in good condition, and the stands are beginning to fill with fans who will be in attendance. The teams have already arrived at the venue where this match will take place.
How to watch Nigeria vs Tanzania and kickoff time
Kickoff at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. WAT, which is 16:00 GMT, 11:00 a.m. ET, 8:00 a.m. PT and 17:00 in Madrid.
Broadcast rights depend on the territory, so check your local listings, and follow the match here with VAVEL for the full live blog.
We will publish confirmed lineups about an hour before kickoff, then goals, cards and substitutions as they happen during the 90 minutes.
Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon carry the creative load for Nigeria
Two names stand out in the Nigerian squad numbers. Alex Iwobi has completed 175 accurate passes, the highest total on the team, and Moses Simon leads the side with 9 shots.
Moses Usor has a goal in his three appearances, Semi Ajayi has the team's assist among the leaders listed, and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has made 8 saves.
That mix shows a Nigeria team that builds through midfield passing and uses Simon's running on the flank to get into shooting positions.
Tanzania's own passing leader is Ibrahim Hamad with 103 accurate passes, which is 72 fewer than Iwobi, a number that gives a clear picture of how much more of the ball Nigeria usually have in these games.
The group table: Guinea-Bissau lead, Nigeria second on 3 points
The group standings leave very little room for error. Guinea-Bissau lead with 7 points from three games, Nigeria are second with 3, Madagascar have 2 and Tanzania are last with 1.
For the Super Eagles, a win in Uyo is the cleanest way to reduce the gap on the leaders, because Nigeria's two results so far are a 2-1 win over Madagascar and a 3-0 defeat at Guinea-Bissau.
Tanzania have lost 2-0 to Guinea-Bissau and drawn 1-1 at Madagascar, so a point or three on the road would change their position quickly. The two sides have not met in this group yet, which makes the Uyo game the first direct comparison between them.
Nigeria's only previous home match in the group was the 2-1 win over Madagascar on Sept. 25, so Uyo is the second look at how the team plays in front of its own supporters. That earlier win came by a single goal, so the Super Eagles have not yet blown anyone away in this group.
Super Eagles host Tanzania in Uyo at 5:00 p.m. local time
Welcome to VAVEL's live coverage of Nigeria vs Tanzania in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Kickoff at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. local time (16:00 GMT, 11:00 a.m. ET and 17:00 in Madrid).
It is Matchday 3 in a group where Nigeria has 3 points from two games and Tanzania has 1. Bookmakers see a clear home edge, with Nigeria listed at -600 and the goal total at 2.5.
We will bring you lineups, goals and key moments as soon as they happen.
Goal! Goal! Goal for Nigeria! Alhassan Yusuf scores! The home team scores the first goal of the match, opening the scoring with a nice goal by the midfielder, who put the ball in the net after receiving a pass from Ademola Lookman.