Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has insisted that Nigeria will approach Monday’s AFCON 2026 Round of 16 clash against Mozambique with full respect and awareness, warning that the Mambas are a side that “cannot be underrated.”

Mozambique advanced to the knockout stages for just the second time in AFCON history, finishing as one of the best third-placed teams in the group stage.

They secured one win and suffered two defeats, doing enough to progress despite a challenging campaign.

Monday’s tie will mark the second AFCON meeting between both nations, following their first encounter in the 2010 group stage, where Nigeria faced the Southern African side for the very first time at the tournament.

Addressing the media at Sunday’s pre-match press conference, Ndidi highlighted that the Super Eagles have done their homework on their opponents.

“They are a very good team, they want to play, they are very aggressive, they play like a team,” Ndidi said.

“We’ve seen the team, we’ve watched their group stage games, we know they fight.

” But the main focus is about us — how we approach the game, how we want it.”

The Leicester City midfielder emphasized unity, intensity, and humility as Nigeria’s guiding principles heading into the match.

“No team in this tournament should be underrated,” he added.

“They are a very good team. We just need to focus on ourselves and approach the game the way we want it.”

Nigeria enters the knockout phase as one of the tournament’s most experienced sides, yet the captain was keen to remind fans and pundits alike that pedigree alone will not guarantee victory.

The Super Eagles are expected to rely on their core strengths — midfield control, defensive structure, and tactical discipline — as they attempt to avoid a potential upset against a spirited Mozambican team eager to make history.

The match kicks off Monday in Rabat, with Nigeria targeting a place in the quarter-finals and a step closer to AFCON glory.

Victor Osimhen, now at Galatasaray, will be among the key players expected to lead Nigeria’s attack in the high-stakes fixture, as the Eagles push to keep their title hopes alive.