Lookman and Ajayi Secure Vital 2-1 Victory for Nigeria Against Tanzania in AFCON 2025 Opener
Nigeria’s Super Eagles started their AFCON 2025 journey with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Tanzania on Tuesday. The Group C opening match took place at the Fez Stadium in Morocco under heavy rain. Both teams entered the pitch with high energy despite the wet conditions. Nigeria dominated the early possession and created several clear chances through Samuel Chukwueze and Akor Adams. The breakthrough finally arrived in the thirty-sixth minute of the first half. Alex Iwobi delivered a pinpoint cross into the penalty area from the right wing. Semi Ajayi rose highest to meet the ball with a powerful header that flew into the back of the net. This opening goal gave the three-time champions a well-deserved lead heading into the halftime break.+4
The second half began with immediate drama as Tanzania pushed for an equalizer in the rainy night. They found their reward in the fiftieth minute when M’Mombwa capitalized on a defensive lapse. He calmly slotted the ball past Nigeria’s goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to level the score at 1-1. The Tanzanian celebration was short-lived as Nigeria responded almost instantly with their own attacking surge. Just two minutes later, Ademola Lookman took control of the ball outside the eighteen-yard box. He unleashed a spectacular solo effort that beat the Tanzanian keeper to restore Nigeria’s lead. This quick response proved to be the decisive moment of the match. The Super Eagles tightened their defense for the remainder of the game to protect the narrow advantage.+1
Victor Osimhen had a difficult night as he saw a goal ruled out for offside by the video assistant referee early in the second period. The star striker was clearly frustrated by the lack of service but remained a constant threat to the Tanzanian backline. Coach Eric Chelle made tactical changes by bringing on Dele-Bashiru and Moses Simon to maintain the intensity. Tanzania fought bravely and nearly equalized again in the final minutes through dangerous efforts from Hamad and John. However, the Nigerian defense led by William Troost-Ekong held firm to secure the three points. This victory places Nigeria at the top of Group C as they look forward to their next fixture against Tunisia. The performance showed both the attacking flair and the defensive resilience of the current Nigerian squad.+3
The win provides a much-needed boost for the Super Eagles following their recent struggles in World Cup qualification. Fans in the stadium and across the world celebrated the victory as a positive sign for the tournament ahead. Tanzania showed great spirit and will likely be a difficult opponent for the other teams in the group. The focus now shifts to recovery and preparation for the upcoming matches in Fez. Nigeria’s ability to respond quickly to adversity was the highlight of the evening for many analysts. They will need to maintain this level of focus to go deep into the competition and challenge for the title. The journey towards continental glory has officially begun for Nigeria in Morocco.
