The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Mauritanian official Dahane Beida as the center referee for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group C opener between Nigeria and Tanzania. The match is scheduled for Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at the Complexe Sportif de Fès, with kickoff set for 6:30 PM local time (5:30 PM WAT).
Beida, 33, is widely regarded as one of the continent’s premier officials. He recently served as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) during the tournament’s opening match on Sunday, where hosts Morocco defeated Comoros 2–0 thanks to goals from Brahim Díaz and Ayoub El Kaabi. For Nigerian fans, Beida is a familiar face; he was the center referee for the 2023 AFCON Final in Abidjan, where the Super Eagles suffered a 2–1 heartbreak against Ivory Coast.
Tuesday’s clash marks only the second time Nigeria and Tanzania have met at an AFCON finals. Their previous encounter carries significant historical weight for the Super Eagles:
The 1980 Meeting: Nigeria faced Tanzania in their opening match of the 1980 tournament (hosted in Lagos). The Eagles won 3–1 with goals from Muda Lawal, Ifeanyi Onyedika, and Segun Odegbami.
The Omen: Following that 1980 victory, Nigeria went on to lift their first-ever continental trophy. Fans are hopeful that facing the “Taifa Stars” in another opening fixture acts as a lucky charm for a fourth title.
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