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Nigeria have beaten Tanzania 2-1 in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group C opener in Fes, Morocco.
Semi Ajayi headed home Alex Iwobi’s cross on 36 minutes to open the scoring and looked like they had a second, seconds after half-time — only for Victor Osimhen’s effort to be rightly ruled out for offside.
Charles M’Mombwa’s first-time finish (52) then brought Tanzania level, only for Ademola Lookman to restore Nigeria’s lead seconds later with a sharp shot from outside the box.
Despite their failure to qualify for next summer’s World Cup, Nigeria are one of the favourites to lift the trophy and made the perfect start to their tournament tonight.
Everything felt rushed. Instead of moving Tanzania around, they forced play forward or took shots when the opportunity was not there.
Towards the end Tanzanian centre-back Ibrahim Hamad almost scored, skewing a close range effort over the bar.
Nigeria looked shorn of confidence, understandable given their World Cup qualification disappointment, but it is an issue that will need addressing quickly.
After dominating the first hour, Nigeria fell over the line in the end with an unconvincing finish to the game.
Some of that owed to the plucky, determined resistance of a Tanzanian side that refused to fold, but a real nervousness crept into Nigeria’s play after Ademola Lookman gave them a 2-1 lead.
Suddenly, after previously controlling possession, the match turned into an end-to-end affair, with Nigeria repeatedly surrendering the ball through careless passes.
I’d say that was one of those ‘positives all round’ opening group games you get.
Nigeria would’ve been expected to win, and delivered enough in terms of output and performance to show they will be a powerful challenger throughout this tournament.
As for a Tanzania side that has yet to win an AFCON match in their history, there was enough in those 90 minutes to show they can yet deliver that milestone against either Tunisia or Uganda.
That's it!
Nigeria weren't at their best but pick up a narrow victory.
Tanzania played very well really and restricted Nigeria to a handful of clear-cut chances.
Positives for both sides to take.
90+3' Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania
Clever from Nigeria, who are slowing the match down effectively.
Tanzania not really pressing despite there only being seconds left.
Alex Iwobi applauds as Nigeria work it back accurately to eat away precious seconds.
90+1' Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania
And three minutes for Tanzania to find an equaliser.
Goalscorer M'Mombwa is off, winger Kibu Denis is on.
Oh my goodness, that was such a great opportunity.
And rather fitting that it ended with Ibrahim Hamad suffering a bout of cramp, potentially brought on by embarrassment as much as fatigue.
89' Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania
Wow.
Corner bent in, Ndidi slices it horribly back towards the near post and defender Ibrahim Hamad is there ready to take a swipe at the bouncing ball.
Not only does he slap it over, no sort of shot really, he picks up some cramp, such was the desperation of his swing.
Cruel.
88' Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania
Nearly, nearly for the underdogs.
Ally Samatta picks up the ball and feeds the flying M'Mombwa down the left.
Clever low pass between the defence and goalkeeper, Nwabali comes but doesn't know what to do with it so the retreating Bassey pokes it out for a corner to deny Kelvin John at the back post.
John was poised to tap it into an empty net!
86' Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania
Off is Victor Osimhen, who takes off his face mask.
He doesn't look fantastically impressed to be taken off and walks away from boss Eric Chelle, who tugs him back by the arm to impart a few more words.
Paul Onuachu, the nearly two-metre tall striker, is on in his stead.
84' Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania
Tanzania have a new energy now and Haji Mnoga, bleach blond hair, wins the ball from Moses Simon with a firm but fair tackle.
A few moments later, they drive forward via Kelvin John, who should feed Mnoga in space down the right, but takes the shot on himself despite several opponents being in his way.
It whistles wide. Stanley Nwabali had that covered.
82' Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania
Zaidu Sanusi with a silly foul, giving Tanzania a set-piece opportunity.
Miroshi bends it in, nodded away, Nigeria break and Bright Osayi-Samuel sprints down the right after a robust slide tackle.
Crossed in, Osimhen brings it down, huge foot in from sub Dickson Job, it breaks for Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, who touches it around Zuberi Foba but the goalkeeper slides back to block his powerful shot!
79' Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania
Defender Dickson Job is on for veteran Shomari Kapombe, 33, the versatile Haji Mnoga of Salford City on for Tarryn Allarakhia.
75' Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania
Around 15 minutes left and Victor Osimhen is cutting a frustrated figure out there.
He nudges centre-half Ibrahim Hamad over from behind as he tries to latch onto Alex Iwobi’s pass.
It is soft and he cannot believe the foul goes against him.
Surprised he hasn’t talked himself into a yellow card there.
Very enthusiastic arguing with the ref, plenty of gesticulations.
This has been a much more even second half so far, although it still feels like Nigeria could pull away if they need to. Or at least, that they have more gears to find.
The fact the Super Eagles were able to restore their lead almost immediately following Charles M’Mombwa’s equaliser said a lot.
But Tanzania haven’t given up on this at all, and they are being given the encouragement to think there is a second goal out there for them — if they can find the quality to work it.
68' Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania
Iwobi, so creative, sends a nice through ball into the inside-left channel for Osimhen to chase.
This time he’s onside, in behind the defence, racing forward from a tight angle but he tries to run around it and shoot with his right foot rather than an effort on his left, which looks the more natural decision.
Easy for Zuberi Foba, who has been impressive on his first international start.
67' Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania
Fulham’s Alex Iwobi, one of the standout players on the pitch and boasting two assists so far, is found by Moses Simon after he floats left and right past Shomari Kapombe.
Fake shot, cuts onto his left, shoots on the angle for the top-right corner, narrowly over. Close.
63' Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania
Off comes Simon Msuva and on comes Kelvin John of Aalborg.
Can the exciting 22-year-old attacker have an impact?
61' Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania
Moses Simon nearly makes an instant impact, jinking down the left and crossing to the back post.
Victor Osimhen nods it upwards, then back across for Ademola Lookman, who volleys it …
Deflected but tipped over from Zuberi Foba. Good stop, corner, but the set piece comes to nothing.
