Nigeria scrape past a resilient Tanzania in Group C opener

Nigeria edged Tanzania 2-1 in their AFCON 2025 Group C opener on Tuesday thanks to goals from Semi Ajayi and Ademola Lookman. Tanzania fought hard, pulling one back through Charles M’Mombwa, but the Super Eagles’ quality proved decisive.

Played at the Complexe Sportif de Fès in Fez, Nigeria started brightly, dominating possession and pressing high. Their breakthrough came in the 36th minute when Semi Ajayi rose above the Tanzanian defense to head home from a set piece.

Tanzania responded after halftime with Charles M’Mombwa equalizing in the 50th minute, capitalizing on a rare lapse in Nigeria’s backline. However, just two minutes later, Ademola Lookman restored Nigeria’s lead with a composed finish, ensuring the Super Eagles walked away with all three points.

Nigeria’s midfield trio of Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, and Samuel Chukwueze controlled the tempo, with Iwobi registering two assists. Victor Osimhen worked tirelessly up front, stretching Tanzania’s defense even though he didn’t get on the scoresheet.

For Tanzania, Novatus Miroshi impressed with his creativity, setting up M’Mombwa’s goal. Despite their resilience, Tanzania struggled to cope with Nigeria’s attacking depth.

Nigeria’s victory highlights their ability to respond quickly under pressure, bouncing back immediately after Tanzania’s equalizer. The Super Eagles showed both resilience and attacking flair, positioning themselves strongly in Group C with three points.

Tanzania, meanwhile, demonstrated grit and flashes of quality but will need sharper finishing and more composure in defense to challenge for progression. For Nigeria, this result sets the tone for their AFCON 2025 campaign, with Lookman and Iwobi emerging as key figures in their quest for continental glory.

Match Stats

Statistic	Nigeria 🇳🇬	Tanzania 🇹🇿
Possession	59.2%	40.8%
Goals	2 S. Ajayi ⚽ Lookman ⚽	1 M’Mombwa ⚽
Shots (total)	21	11
Shots on target	11	3
Saves	2	8
Corner Kicks	6	6
Yellow Cards	1	0