The Super Eagles of Nigeria got off to a winning start at AFCON 2025 at the Complexe Sportif de Fès stadium yesterday. The 2-1 victory was sealed through goals from Hull City center back Semi Ajayi and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman. The Eagles took the lead through Ajayi in the 36th minute, a bullet header after a great cross from Alex Iwobi. The Taifa Stars equalized in the 50th minute through Charles M’Mombwa after some great all round play but just two minutes later, Lookman gave Nigeria back the lead with a venomous left footed strike from just outside the box.
Akor Adams and Victor Osimhen started up top for the Eagles in a 442 set up, with Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze behind them as dual attacking midfielders. Mbwana Ally Samatta started up top in Tanzania’s 4231, with Tarryn Allarakhia and Simon Msuva to his left and right respectively and goalscorer Charles M’Mombwa in attacking midfield.
Nigeria employed a high-press system designed to overwhelm Tanzania’s defensive third. The Super Eagles utilized a high volume of shots, forcingTanzania into a deep defensive posture. Nigeria focused on Wing Play and Crosses with both Ademolba Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze tasked with stretching the Tanzanian defense, leading to multiple corners and many crosses. Nigeria’s aerial threat was a primary weapon. Akor Adams hit the bar from a corner in the 11th minute before Semi Ajayi successfully exploited this vulnerability in the 36th minute, heading home an Alex Iwobi delivery.
Tanzania’s tactical setup was reactive, focusing on defensive organization and the exceptional positioning of Zuberi Foba on the night. Tanzania remained patient, waiting for moments of Nigerian over-extension and an opportunity to hit them on the counter. They however scored through a rare period of sustained pressure and keeping the ball.
The match began with Nigeria immediately seeking to assert their dominance on the pitch. The Super Eagles wasted no time in pushing forward, with Victor Osimhen winning a free kick in the attacking half just four minutes into the contest following a foul by Ibrahim Hamad.
This early set piece set the tone for a period of sustained Nigerian pressure. In the 5th minute, Samuel Chukwueze unleashed a left-footed strike from outside the box, which forced Tanzania’s goalkeeper, Zuberi Foba, into a sharp save in the bottom-left corner. Tanzania struggled to clear their lines as Nigeria continued to rotate possession and probe for openings. Simon Msuva managed to win a free kick on the right wing for Tanzania in the 6th minute after being fouled by Calvin Bassey, providing a brief respite for the visitors.
The Nigerian onslaught resumed quickly, however, and in the 9th minute, Akor Adams saw his left-footed attempt from a difficult angle on the left saved in the bottom-left corner by Foba. The resulting corner led to a momentary delay as Zuberi Foba required medical attention for an injury, though he was eventually able to continue.
In the 11th minute, Nigeria came agonizingly close to the opener when Akor Adams met an Ademola Lookman corner with a powerful header that rattled the crossbar. Tanzania responded with a rare foray forward in the 14th minute; Simon Msuva’s right-footed shot from the center of the box was well-saved in the center of the goal by Stanley Nwabali. Nigeria immediately counter-attacked in the 15th minute, with Victor Osimhen firing high and wide from the right side of the box after being played through by Lookman.
As the first half progressed, the tempo remained high. Tanzania’s Mbwana Samatta won a free kick on the right wing in the 16th minute after a foul by Calvin Bassey, but the delivery failed to trouble the Nigerian defense. In the 19th minute, Tanzania’s Novatus Miroshi saw a long-range effort blocked, while Samuel Chukwueze won a defensive free kick for Nigeria moments later.
Victor Osimhen continued to be a handful for the Tanzanian defenders, winning another free kick in the 25th minute. Nigeria’s persistence finally paid off in the 36th minute. Following an Alex Iwobi cross from a corner, Semi Ajayi rose highest in the center of the box to plant a header into the bottom-left corner, giving Nigeria a 1–0 lead.
The final ten minutes of the half saw Nigeria push for a second goal. Osimhen had two significant attempts, one missed to the left in the 22nd minute and another blocked in the 35th minute after being set up by Akor Adams.
Tanzania had a late chance to equalize just before the interval when Charles M’Mombwa headed wide from a Simon Msuva cross in the 45th minute. The half ended with Stanley Nwabali requiring treatment following an injury in the 43rd minute, but Nigeria took their slender lead into the break.
The second half began with Nigeria showing no signs of slowing down. Within the first minute of the restart, Zuberi Foba was forced into a triple-save sequence to keep Tanzania in the match. He first denied Victor Osimhen from the center of the box, then stopped a strike from Samuel Chukwueze, and finally parried a long-range effort from Wilfred Ndidi.
Despite this pressure, Tanzania stunned the Super Eagles in the 50th minute. Novatus Miroshi delivered a cross that found Charles M’Mombwa in the six-yard box, and he slotted a right-footed shot into the center of the goal to level the score at 1–1.
Nigeria’s response was instantaneous. Just two minutes later, in the 52nd minute, Alex Iwobi provided his second assist of the match, finding Ademola Lookman outside the box. Lookman unleashed a powerful left-footed strike that flew into the bottom-right corner to restore Nigeria’s lead.
The match became increasingly physical as Tanzania searched for another equalizer. Tarryn Allarakhia saw an effort blocked in the 54th minute and another fly high and wide in the 55th minute. In the 58th minute, Ademola Lookman was shown a yellow card for a bad foul on Novatus Miroshi, who required medical attention.
Coach Eric Tchelle made a double substitution for Nigeria in the 59th minute, bringing on Moses Simon for Samuel Chukwueze and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru for Akor Adams to provide fresh legs. Tanzania responded in the 62nd minute by introducing Kelvin John for Simon Msuva.
Nigeria continued to create chances, with Lookman seeing a header saved in the 61st minute and Osimhen missing the target in the 62nd minute. In the 67th minute, Foba made another crucial save to deny Osimhen, while Alex Iwobi fired a left-footed shot too high moments later.
The closing stages of the match were dominated by a flurry of substitutions as both teams looked to manage the remaining time. Tanzania brought on Haji Mnoga and Dickson Job in the 79th minute, followed by Denis Kibu in the 91st minute. Nigeria introduced Paul Onuachu in the 86th minute to replace Victor Osimhen.
Despite late Tanzanian pressure, including three corners in the 64th, 68th, and 70th minutes, the Nigerian defense held firm. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru had a final chance for Nigeria in the 82nd minute, but his shot was saved in the bottom-right corner. Tanzania had one last opportunity in the 88th minute when Ibrahim Hamad missed high and wide from a corner. After three minutes of added time and a late free kick won by Mohamed Hussein, the referee blew the whistle on a hard-fought 2–1 victory for Nigeria.
