Nigeria AFCON Opener Sees Lookman Deliver 2-1 Win Over Tanzania

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Ademola Lookman delivered the decisive goal as Nigeria opened their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 2-1 win over Tanzania in Fes, collecting three important Group C points despite a tense second half.

The result sets Nigeria up for a key clash with Tunisia on Saturday, yet the display raises questions, as Tanzania, ranked 112th by FIFA compared to Nigeria in 38th, pushed the four-time AFCON winners far harder than expected.

Nigeria controlled long spells before the interval, creating several clear chances. Akor Adams struck the frame of the goal, then Victor Osimhen rounded goalkeeper Zuberi Foba, only for a defender to clear the angled shot from near the line, keeping the scores level for the opening half-hour.

The breakthrough came from the second phase following the resulting corner. With 36 minutes played, Alex Iwobi clipped a high cross back into the box and Semi Ajayi met it firmly, steering a header past Foba to give the Super Eagles a deserved 1-0 lead at half-time.

After the restart, Nigeria thought the contest was under control, especially when Osimhen produced a neat flicked finish, which was quickly ruled out for offside. That decision proved costly, as Tanzania soon punished the lapse in concentration with a well-worked equaliser.

On 50 minutes, Novatus Miroshi lifted a clever chipped pass into the penalty area, where Charles M'Mombwa arrived to cushion a side-footed effort into the far corner, silencing many Nigeria supporters and briefly shifting momentum towards the underdogs in Fes.

Nigeria vs Tanzania at AFCON: Lookman winner and late chances

Nigeria reacted almost immediately. Just 108 seconds after M'Mombwa’s strike, Iwobi slipped a precise pass to Lookman, who cut inside and drove a powerful left-footed shot beyond Foba, restoring the advantage and settling some nerves on the Nigeria bench.

Tanzania refused to fold and created two major opportunities to equalise again. Calvin Bassey made a crucial intervention on Mohamed Hussein’s dangerous low cross, diverting the ball away from waiting attackers, before Ibrahim Hamad drilled a shot into the side netting from a promising angle.

Africa Cup of Nations data: Nigeria vs Tanzania numbers

Tanzania matched Nigeria better than many expected, finishing with 11 shots and 0.79 expected goals, while Nigeria produced 21 attempts and 1.55 expected goals, highlighting pressure without full control against an organised and ambitious opponent.

Osimhen remained without a goal despite firing a game-high seven shots. That total was the most by a Nigeria player in a single AFCON match since Victor Obina also recorded seven attempts against Algeria in 2010, underlining Osimhen’s involvement but also Tanzania’s stubborn defending.

Iwobi quietly shaped the contest, supplying both Nigeria assists after previously never setting up a goal at AFCON, achieving this in the 19th appearance at Africa’s leading tournament and helping secure an unconvincing yet valuable opening victory for the Super Eagles.