FES, MOROCCO – Nigeria’s quest for a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title began on a positive note as the Super Eagles secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Tanzania at the Complexe Sportif De Fes.
Goals from Semi Ajayi and Ademola Lookman proved decisive for the West African giants. Despite a late lapse in concentration that allowed the Taifa Stars back into the contest, Nigeria held firm to claim all three points in their Group A opener.
Match Summary
The Super Eagles established control early on, with Semi Ajayi breaking the deadlock to settle the nerves of the three-time champions. Ademola Lookman doubled the advantage with a clinical finish, rewarding Nigeria’s dominance. Although Tanzania pulled one back to set up a tense finale, the Eagles’ defensive resilience ensured a winning start to the tournament.
Super Eagles Player Ratings
Stanley Nwabali – 6.5/10 The Chippa United shot-stopper had a relatively quiet evening. While he lacked protection for the goal he conceded, where he might have reacted quicker, he remained a commanding and vocal presence in the penalty area.
Semi Ajayi – 7.7/10 (Man of the Match) A standout performance from the centre-back. Beyond his defensive duties, Ajayi scored the vital opening goal and showed great composure on the ball throughout the match.
Ademola Lookman – 7.6/10 Lookman was a constant menace to the Tanzanian backline from the first whistle. His persistence paid off with a brilliantly taken goal, though his final ball was occasionally inconsistent.
Wilfred Ndidi – 7.2/10 Leading the side as captain, the Besiktas midfielder rolled back the years with a tireless performance. He covered vast distances, breaking up play and distributing the ball efficiently.
Samuel Chukwueze – 7/10 The AC Milan winger (misidentified in some reports as a Fulham player) was electric in the first half. Most of Nigeria’s best attacking moves flowed through him, even if his decision-making occasionally let him down.
Calvin Bassey – 7/10 Bassey was largely flawless and formed a sturdy partnership with Ajayi. However, a brief breakdown in communication at the back led to Tanzania’s consolation goal.
Alex Iwobi – 6.9/10 The Fulham playmaker dictated the tempo from deep in the first half but saw his influence wane as the game progressed.
Akor Adams – 6.9/10 The Sevilla forward proved to be an effective partner for Osimhen. While he didn’t get on the scoresheet, his hold-up play and defensive contributions were vital for the team’s balance.
Bright Osayi-Samuel – 6.5/10 A solid shift at right-back. He balanced his defensive responsibilities well with forward runs, though his crossing accuracy left room for improvement.
Zaidu Sanusi – 6.3/10 A mixed bag for the left-back. He struggled at times with the pace of the Tanzanian wingers and failed to provide a consistent threat with his deliveries into the box.
Victor Osimhen – 6/10 The Galatasaray talisman worked incredibly hard and led the line with his usual intensity. However, it was an uncharacteristically wasteful night for the striker, who missed several clear-cut opportunities.
Substitutes
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Moses Simon (6.5/10): Provided an injection of pace and trickery on the flank; caused problems but lacked a final product.
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Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (6/10): Brought on to stabilise the midfield but struggled to get into the rhythm of the game.
