Ademola Lookman of Nigeria celebrates goal with teammates during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON match between Nigeria and Tanzania at the Complex Sportif de Fes in Fes, Morocco on 23 December 2025 © Nabil Ramdani/BackpagePix
Tuesday Dec 23, 2025. 21:55
Nigeria began its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a convincing 2-1 win over Tanzania at the Fez Stadium in Fez, Morocco, on Tuesday.
Semi Ajayi and Ademola Lookman both got their names on the scoresheet while Charles M’Mombwa netted his third goal for Tanzania in his last two games for the national side.
The Super Eagles remain unbeaten against the Taifa Stars at the tournament, having claimed a victory on the opening day of the 1980 edition in Lagos against Tanzania.
On the other side, the Taifa Stars’ opening game woes continue, as the team has now lost all four of its opening games in tournament history.
Tanzania had a new face in goal as Zuberi Foba made his first international start while Simon Msuva made his 100th appearance for the nation.
Nigeria began on the front foot applying pressure from the first whistle. Samuel Chukwueze first tested Zuberi Foba in the 6th, but the Tanzanian goalkeeper held his nerve to make a routine save.
Chukwueze was involved again in the ninth minute, finding Akor Adams in the box, who could not beat Foba from a tight angle.
Adams nearly put the Super Eagles in front in the 11th minute, getting his head to Lookman’s corner, but his attempt was denied by the crossbar.
Tanzania’s first attempt of the game came in spectacular fashion as Simon Msuva attempted to finish Shomari Kapombe’s cross with a bicycle kick in the 14th minute but was denied by Stanley Nwabali.
In the 35th minute, Adams found Victor Osimhen going forward, who rounded the rushing Foba but had his attempt cleared off the goal line by defender Bakari Mwamnyeto.
Semi Ajayi found the back of the net in the 36th minute, bagging his second goal for his country to put the Super Eagles in front. Ajayi rose above the defence to meet Iwobi’s cross, heading the ball past Foba from close range.
Foba kept the deficit to one goal on the stroke of half-time, making a double save to deny Nigerian captain Wilfred Ndidi from long range before tapping Chukwueze’s follow-up over the bar.
Nigeria nearly doubled its lead in the first minute of the second half as Osimhen found the back of the net, but he was ruled to be offside.
Tanzania drew level in the 50th minute as Charles M’Mombwa converted Novatus Miroshi’s chip over the top of the Nigerian defence, beating Stanley Nwabali at the near post.
However, Tanzania’s lead did not last long as the Super Eagles restored their lead just two minutes later. Lookman scored a spectacular strike from the edge of the area to put Nigeria ahead once more.
Substitute Moses Simon found Osimhen in the box in the 61st minute, with the striker laying the ball off for Lookman. The winger’s attempt whistled narrowly over the bar as the Super Eagles continued to search for a third goal.
Iwobi came close to doubling Nigeria’s lead in the 67th minute with a well struck shot from inside the Tanzanian box, but his effort cruised narrowly over the bar.
In the 87th minute, substitute Kelvin John nearly guided the ball in at the back post, but Calvin Bassey managed to poke it away from the waiting winger at the last moment.
Ibrahim Hamad missed a chance at the near post from the resulting corner, scuffing his attempt from close range.
Nigeria will look to maintain its hot start at the continental championship when the Super Eagles face Tunisia at the Fez Stadium on Saturday.
Tanzania will look to bounce back on Saturday as the Taifa Stars tackle Uganda at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat.
Nigeria (1) 2 (Ajayi 36’, Lookman 52’)
Tanzania 1 (M’Mombwa 50′)
Nigeria: S. Nwabali, Z. Sanusi, C. Bassey, S. Ajayi, B. Osayi-Samuel, S. Chukwueze (M. Simon 59’), W. Ndidi, A. Iwobi, A. Adams (F. Dele-Bashiru 59’), V. Osimhen (P. Onuachu 86’), A. Lookman
Tanzania: Z. Foba, M. Hussein, I. Hamad, B. Mwamnyeto, S. Kapombe (H. Mnoga 79’), C. M’mombwa (K. Denis 90+1’), A. Msanga, N. Miroshi, T. Allarakhia (D. Job 79’), M. Samatta, S. Msuva (K. John 63’)
By Nic Gleeson