Nigeria vs Tanzania 2-1: AFCON 2025 – as it happened

The live coverage of Nigeria vs Tanzania has ended.

The Super Eagles kicked off their AFCON 2025 campaign with a 2-1 victory, thanks to goals from Ajayi and Lookman.

Thank you for tuning in to this fixture. We will be back soon for more live action from Africa’s premier football competition.

Lookman on cloud nine! 🤩🇳🇬#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 | #WeCelebrateDifferentpic.twitter.com/7pLWjnHO4L

— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 23, 2025

Click here to read our full match report following the game in Fez.

Our focus now shifts to Nigeria’s second AFCON fixture, which is on Saturday against Tunisia. Kickoff is scheduled for 20:00 GMT in Fez, Morocco.

Al Jazeera’s live coverage will begin at 17:00 GMT, so tune in to keep up with all the action from Africa’s premier football competition.

Today

Group C: Tunisia vs Uganda (Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, 9pm/20:00 GMT)

Wednesday

Group E: Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea (Stade Mohammed V, 1:30pm/12:30 GMT)

Group E: Algeria vs Sudan (Moulay Hassan Stadium, 4pm/15:00 GMT)

Group F: Ivory Coast vs Mozambique (Marrakesh Stadium, 6:30pm/17:30 GMT)

Group F: Cameroon vs Gabon(Adrar Stadium, 9pm/20:00 GMT)

The full match schedule, groups and format can be found here.

From stars Mohamed Salah and Achraf Hakimi to breakout talent Carlos Baleba, Al Jazeera picks 10 “must-watch” footballers heading into AFCON.

Find the full list here.

Ademola ‌Lookman scored a superb second-half winner as Nigeria earned a 2-1 Africa Cup of Nations Group C victory over Tanzania in the ⁠pouring rain in Fez, a positive start for the silver medallists from two years ago but one that was not without moments of alarm.

Nigeria ⁠were more dominant than the scoreline suggests in terms of possession and chances, but they failed to finish off the contest and were almost made to pay for their ‌wastefulness in front of goal by their East African opponents.

Semi Ajayi headed Nigeria in front in ‌the first half before Charles M’Mombwa equalised five ‌minutes after halftime. The ⁠Tanzanians’ joy lasted only two minutes, however, as Lookman fired in what proved to be ‌the winner from outside the box.

Nigeria will face Tunisia in their second group game on Saturday before playing Uganda in their final fixture on December 30.

Tanzania face Uganda on Saturday while they end their group phase with a meeting with Tunisia on December 30.

Alexander Isak is likely to be out of action for two months after fracturing his leg against Tottenham, with Liverpool manager Arne Slot accusing Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven of making a “reckless challenge”.

The Sweden striker was injured in a tackle from the defender in the act of scoring the opening goal in Saturday’s 2-1 victory and limped off the pitch.

Liverpool said in a statement on Monday that the forward had had an operation on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture.

“It’s going to be a long injury, for a couple of months,” Slot told reporters on Tuesday, “So, yeah, that’s a big, big, big disappointment for him. And as a result, also of course for us.”

Slot described van de Ven’s tackle as “reckless”.

Click here to read more.

Nigeria are on top of the group with three points while Tanzania go to the bottom.

The other teams in this group – Tunisia and Uganda – will face off later today in Rabat.

Nigerian defender Ajayi, who scored a header that sent his team 1-0 up in the 36th minute, has been named the player of the match.

Nigeria's Semi Ajayi is the TotalEnergies Man of the Match following a brilliant display. 🌟🇳🇬#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 | @Football2Getherpic.twitter.com/yd8lDxsKzk

— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 23, 2025

The victory in Fez is Nigeria’s fifth over Tanzania in eight matches across all competitions.

Tanzania have yet to defeat Nigeria although three of their encounters have ended in draws.

Nigeria go on top of Group C with three points, thanks to this 2-1 win over Tanzania in their AFCON 2025 opener.

Goals from Ajayi and Lookman guided the Super Eagles to a hard-fought result against a persistent Tanzania side, for whom M’Mombwa scored the consolation goal.

FULL-TIME! 🇳🇬🇹🇿

A thriller ends with a 2-1 win for Nigeria over Tanzania. #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 | @tecnomobilepic.twitter.com/MrvRgDlymC

— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 23, 2025

A very brief period of added time before Nigeria can burst into celebrations.

Or will Tanzania ruin their party in Fez? They are bringing on Denis for M’Mombwa.

90+1 mins: Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania

Nigeria survive two nervous moments as Hamad fires over after Ndidi’s poor clearance in the box. Earlier, Bassey cleared the ball for a corner while John was lining up to tap home at the far post, hoping to finish a clean Tanzania move.

89 mins: Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania

Nigeria’s #9 makes way for Onuachu. Less than five minutes of regulation time is remaining.

87 mins: Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania

A promising attack from Tanzania as John is picked out outside the box, and he fires after taking a few touches. However, his low shot drags wide of the far corner.

85 mins: Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania

The Super Eagles, trying to run down the clock, are lining up more substitutions.

Meanwhile, Bashiru fires awfully wide after charging in from the right side.

84 mins: Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania

Tanzania goalkeeper Masudi dangerously comes off his line but uses his body well to block Bashiru’s shot at the near post after Osimhen slipped in the box.

82 mins: Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania

After a fiery start to the second half, the intensity and tempo have slowed down.

With just about 10 minutes to go, Nigeria are happy to sit back and defend this narrow lead.

Tanzania, on the other hand, are slowly running out of ideas to pull one back.

82 mins: Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania