Nigeria opened their AFCON 2025 campaign with a 2–1 victory over Tanzania’s Taifa Stars in Fès on Tuesday evening, joining Senegal, South Africa, Egypt and Morocco has matchday 1 winners, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The Super Eagles took early control of proceedings but initially struggled to turn dominance into goals. Victor Osimhen came close in the 32nd minute after latching onto an Alex Iwobi pass and nudging the ball goalwards, only for a Tanzanian defender to clear with goalkeeper Zuberi Masudi beaten.
The breakthrough arrived three minutes later. Hull City defender Semi Ajayi rose highest in the area to power home a perfectly delivered cross from Iwobi, giving Nigeria a deserved lead.
Iwobi, earning his 92nd international cap was influential throughout the first half, dictating play with a series of incisive passes that delighted the crowd.
Tanzania threatened briefly six minutes after Ajayi’s opener, but Stanley Nwabali was equal to Tarryn Allarakhia’s fierce effort. In stoppage time, Samuel Chukwueze nearly doubled Nigeria’s advantage, his close-range strike being tipped over the bar.
Nigeria thought they had made it 2–0 when Osimhen’s back-flick found the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
The Taifa Stars capitalised on that reprieve in the 52nd minute, as Charles M’Mbombwa fired past Nwabali while the Nigerian defence appealed in vain for offside. The response, however, was swift.
Ademola Lookman restored Nigeria’s lead almost immediately, drilling home from the edge of the box after another well-weighted pass from Iwobi.
Tanzania pushed for a second equaliser but Nigeria’s backline marshalled by Calvin Bassey, Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Zaidu Sanusi and captain Wilfred Ndidi stood firm to see out the win.
The victory took Nigeria’s all-time AFCON goal tally to 148 with their next Group outing against Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles scheduled for Saturday at the same venue.
By Oluwadamilola Olaleye