CAS Ruling Confirms Nigeria’s AFCON Opener Against Tanzania Next Month
Nigeria will face Tanzania, not Guinea, in their opening Group C match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on December 23 at the Fez Stadium in Morocco, following a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The Lausanne-based body has dismissed an appeal filed by the Fédération Guinéenne de Football (FEGUIFOOT) against the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The dispute stemmed from a qualifying match played on November 19, 2024, which Tanzania won 1-0. During the game, a Tanzanian player entered the field wearing shirt number 26, despite being registered as number 24. Guinea argued that this constituted a breach of regulations, claiming it created an unfair tactical imbalance and compromised the integrity of the match.
CAF’s Appeal Board had already rejected Guinea’s protest in June 2025, declaring it inadmissible. Dissatisfied, FEGUIFOOT escalated the matter to CAS, seeking to have the match forfeited in their favour with a 3-0 scoreline, or alternatively, to have Tanzania excluded from AFCON 2025 and Guinea reinstated.
An in-person hearing was held at CAS headquarters on November 17, 2025. After reviewing the case, the panel unanimously upheld CAF’s earlier decision, ruling against Guinea’s appeal.
The judgment confirms Tanzania’s qualification and participation in AFCON 2025, ensuring they remain Nigeria’s first opponents in Group C.
The CAS decision is currently operative without published grounds, though a full award will be made available on the CAS website in due course unless confidentiality is requested.
