Nigeria's Super Eagles kicked off their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Tanzania in their opener at the Complexe Sportif de Fès. Despite suffering a narrow defeat, Tanzania's head coach Manuel Gomandi expressed pride in his side's spirited and disciplined performance, believing they silenced critics who had predicted a lopsided affair in favor of the three-time African champions. Gomandi highlighted his players' tactical execution, stating, “The performance of my players was great even though we committed the mistake from the corner where we conceded the first goal.” He emphasized that his team defied expectations of playing defensively, asserting, “My style is to try to convince the players that they can defend, you must defend even more, but we need to attack and not respect the opponent too much.”

The Super Eagles secured their victory with goals from Semi Ajayi and Ademola Lookman. Semi Ajayi opened the scoring in the 36th minute with a thunderous header from an Alex Iwobi corner. While Tanzania managed to pull one back through Kokola M’mombwa after the interval, Ademola Lookman restored Nigeria's lead, firing home a powerful left-footed strike from another crucial assist by Iwobi, ultimately sealing the win.

This victory was particularly significant for Nigeria as it pushed their all-time AFCON tournament goal tally to 148, cementing their reputation as one of Africa's most prolific attacking nations. This milestone reflects Nigeria's remarkable consistency across decades of continental competition, with contributions from legendary strikers like Segun Odegbami and Rashidi Yekini, as well as emerging talents. The Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle acknowledges that attacking output is foundational to their tournament DNA, and every goal from here forward contributes to their rich history. The team's most successful AFCON campaigns have consistently featured high goal output, emphasizing the importance of scoring efficiency for deep tournament runs.

A standout performer in the match was Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi, who etched his name into the history books by providing both assists for Nigeria's goals. According to Opta, Iwobi became only the second Nigerian player since 2010 to record two assists in a single AFCON game, a feat previously achieved solely by former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel against Mali in February 2013. The Premier League also lauded Iwobi's influence, highlighting his decisive role in the Super Eagles' triumph.

Former Super Eagles striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni praised the impact of both Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze, stating that they provided the necessary spark to unlock the Tanzanian defense. Yakubu noted the immense pressure on the team, especially after their failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, making the AFCON opener a critical fixture. With tougher tests ahead, including their next game against Tunisia on December 27 in Fes, Morocco, Nigeria's 148-goal legacy serves as both a source of pride and pressure, demanding consistent attacking output to achieve a memorable campaign.