Tanzania head coach Miguel Gamondi has revealed there are tactical plans to stop the attacking threat of Victor Osimhen and other Super Eagles when the two nations face each other in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group C opener.

Speaking to journalists at the pre-match press conference on Monday ahead of the game on Tuesday, Gamondi acknowledged the quality of Nigerian players but maintained that the Tanzanians are well-prepared for it. 

“We have done the analysis but you know for Osimhen, the quality that he has — for sure there is a tactical plan to try to neutralise him,” Gamondi said. “However, it is not only time, we have players like Chukwueze and Lookman so if one is neutralised, another one is attacking.”

He added, “They move very well with the ball and they use the third-man a lot and we need to be very aware of how we are positioned on the pitch. Osimhen is the reference in Nigeria’s attack and we need to care for him as well as the people in the second line.”

On the importance of Tuesday’s game, the former Young Africans manager admitted that the encounter would be very tough. He, however, noted that the match is going to be a nice challenge for the Taifa Stars. 

“We are well prepared, we are excited to start in this Africa Cup of Nations. We are more than ready to tackle tomorrow’s game. It will be a very tough game but would be a nice challenge for us,” he said. 

“We need to be very careful and perfect in every area. We will work on that and I am more than sure that every player will put in their effort tomorrow. If we are being realistic, if you see the quality of the Nigerian players you need more than 100 per cent of your efforts to try to neutralise Nigeria.”

The Taifa Stars have never won a game at the AFCON but Gamondi stressed that his team cannot stop dreaming, adding that beating Nigeria on Tuesday would be like winning the AFCON for the East African country.