Mozambique midfielder Alfons Amade spoke ahead of his team’s round of 16 clash against Nigeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, expressing confidence and determination as they prepare to face the Super Eagles.

 Nigeria secured a strong position in the knockout stages following an impressive performance in the group phase, setting up a challenging encounter against Mozambique.

Speaking on the upcoming fixture, Amade emphasized the collective strength of the Nigerian squad rather than focusing on individual threats.

"I think Nigeria always was a country with big players and I think there is not like one or two players we have to worry about. I think we have to concentrate on the whole game of Nigeria how play our game want to compete against them," he said.

Amadeus added that Mozambique’s objective in the match would be to pursue victory through teamwork and strategic focus.

"And I think this will be like our best chance to win against them because this is our goal at the end of the game tournament we have to win. And to focus only on few players will not be successful for us," he noted.

He also highlighted the unpredictable nature of the Afcon tournament and the opportunity it provides for surprises.

"The nice thing about Afcon is that surprises are always possible and we don't want to hide we want to play football as well. We want to be there. We want to compete against them," Amade said.

Looking ahead to the possibility of extra time or penalties, the Mozambique midfielder reaffirmed the team’s ambition to secure a win by any means necessary.

"And at the end if it's on penalties if overtime or during the 90 minutes we want to win at the end. This is what we are focusing on and of course we are getting inspiration it," he added.

The Super Eagles  will face Mozambique on Monday, seeking to maintain their flawless start to the tournament.

Mozambique are determined to give their best in what promises to be a fiercely contested encounter, with Amadeus and his teammates ready to challenge one of Africa’s footballing powerhouses.

Wale Adejumo