Nigeria began their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a 2-1 victory over Tanzania at the Fez Stadium in Fez, Morocco, on Tuesday, courtesy of goals from Semi Ajayi and Ademola Lookman.
The Super Eagles extended their unbeaten run from open play to seven competitive matches and claimed a second win over Tanzania at the continental showpiece.
The Taifa Stars’ struggles in their opening AFCON games continued, with the team now having lost their first match in all four tournament appearances.
Opening WIN……Onto the next!#NGATAN #Naija4TheWin pic.twitter.com/SeksWuoE0e
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) December 23, 2025
Three Tanzanian players reached significant milestones as Simon Msuva made his 100th appearance for the Taifa Stars, goalkeeper Zuberi Foba made his first international start and Mbwana Samatta wore the captain’s armband on his 33rd birthday.
Nigeria applied pressure from early on, first testing Zuberi Foba in the sixth minute through Samuel Chukwueze, but the Tanzanian goalkeeper held his nerve to make a routine save.
Chukwueze was involved again in the ninth minute, playing in Akor Adams, who could not beat Foba from a tight angle as Nigeria continued searching for an opening goal.
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.
---- NIGERIA ONLY ----
In the 35th minute, Adams played a beautiful ball forward for dangerman Victor Osimhen who rounded the rushing Foba but had his attempt at goal cleared off the line by Bakari Mwamnyeto.
Semi Ajayi handed Nigeria the lead in the 36th minute, bagging his second international goal to put the Super Eagles in front.
The towering defender headed home Iwobi’s cross from close range, leaving Foba no chance.
The Super Eagles produce a set-piece special 🤌🇳🇬
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) December 23, 2025
📺 Stream #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/spXjmeMG6c
Foba kept the deficit to one goal on the stroke of halftime, making a double save to deny Nigerian captain Wilfred Ndidi from long range before tapping Chukwueze’s follow-up over the bar.
SPECTACULAR STRIKE
Nigeria nearly began the second half in emphatic fashion as Osimhen found the back of the net inside the opening minute of the second half, but was ruled to be offside.
Tanzania struck back in the 50th minute as Charles M'Mombwa converted Novatus Miroshi’s chip over the top of the Nigerian defence to draw the Taifa Stars Level.
M'Mombwa beat Nwabali from close range to claim his third goal in his last two games for his country.
However, the Super Eagles restored their lead just two minutes later. Lookman scored a spectacular strike from the edge of the area to restore Nigeria’s lead, beating Foba at the far post.
50' - Charles M'Mombwa ⚽
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) December 23, 2025
52' - Ademola Lookman ⚽
Nigeria respond to Tanzania's equaliser 😲
📺 Stream #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQWD1K pic.twitter.com/yfHFdNot9r
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.
In the 76th minute, Lookman looked to find Osimhen in the area but had his cross deflected to take it out of the striker’s path and into the hands of Foba.
Iwobi came close to doubling Nigeria’s lead in the 77th 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 poked the ball in at the back post, but Calvin Bassey managed to get a touch to take the ball away from the waiting winger.
Ibrahim Hamad misses a chance at the near post from the resulting corner, missing his attempt from close range.
Nigeria will look to maintain their spot at the top of group C when the Super Eagles face Tunisia at the Fez Stadium on Saturday.
Tanzania will attempt to register their first points on Saturday as the Taifa Stars find themselves up against 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’)