Nigeria began their 21st Africa Cup of Nations campaign on a laboured but winning note, with a 2-1 win over Tanzania’s Taifa Stars in Fès on Tuesday evening.
The Super Eagles, playing their 105th match in the history of Africa’s biggest football championship, dominated proceedings early in the game, but did not find the opening they craved to make hay. In the 32nd minute, Victor Osimhen latched onto a pass from Alex Iwobi and got a good touch across the goal-line, but a Tanzanian defender cleared his lines with goalkeeper Zuberi Masudi beaten.
Three minutes later, the Eagles got the lead their endeavour deserved, as defender Semi Ajayi rose highest in the box to nod home a perfect cross by Iwobi.
Iwobi, winning his 92nd cap, was radiant under the floodlights as he sprayed excellent passes around the pitch to the admiration of the fans.
Six minutes later, after Ajayi’s goal, the Taifa Stars had a sight of the Nigerian goal, but goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali stopped a fierce shot by Tarryn Allarakhia.
In added time of the first period, Samuel Chukwueze came close to making it 2-0 for Nigeria, but his shot from inside the box was tipped over the bar.
Just over 11,000 spectators watched inside the Complexe Sportif de Fès as the Eagles returned to a lightning start under the drizzling rain in Northern Morocco.
Nigeria thought they had a second goal just after the restart, when Victor Osimhen’s back-flick ended up in the net. However, his effort was ruled out for offside positioning.
The East Africans began to make incursions into Nigeria’s vital area, and in the 52nd minute, Charles M’Mbombwa fired past Nwabali while the Nigerian rearguard thought he was in an offside position.
Undaunted, the Eagles swept back into the lead almost immediately, with Ademola Lookman firing into the net from the edge of the box from a good Iwobi pass.
Tanzania launched several onslaughts to draw level a second time, but could not as Calvin Bassey, Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Zaidu Sanusi and Captain Wilfred Ndidi kept things tight at the back.
The two goals shot Nigeria’s tally at the AFCON to 148, with their next match in this campaign against Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles coming up on Saturday at the same venue.
Photo Caption:
Nigeria’s Super Eagles defender, Ajayi, celebrates his goal against Tanzania in Fes, Morocco, during the 2025 AFCON tournament
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