Ademola Lookman’s second-half winner helped Nigeria overcome a Tanzania fightback and begin their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a bright 2-1 Group C victory in Fes on Tuesday.
Lookman thumped home from distance in the 52nd minute to restore Nigeria’s advantage after Kokola M’Mombwa had cancelled out Semi Ajayi’s opener during a frantic start to the second half.
VAR ruled a Victor Osimhen goal out for offside moments before M’Mombwa equalised for the Taifa Stars, despite initially appearing to be in an offside position himself, briefly giving the East Africans hope of a result in their tournament opener.
In a wet Fes, the Super Eagles enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, with in-form Samuel Chukwueze particularly lively and firing straight at goalkeeper Zuberi Masudi early on.
Moments later, Chukwueze turned creator, crafting a chance for Akor Adams, who was closed down by the goalkeeper, before the Sevilla man then sent a header against the Tanzania bar soon afterwards.
Tanzania had chances of their own, notably with Simon Msuva forcing a save from Stanley Nwabali with a scissor-kick after being set up by Shomari Kapombe, but Nigeria increasingly sought to impose themselves, with Osimhen skewering a shot over after admirable work by Lookman, before the latter sent a free kick over the bar.
Osimhen began to grow into the contest, but while his interplay with Adams and Lookman caused problems for the Tanzanians, his composure in the final third let him down, once rounding the keeper before failing to find a teammate with his cutback, and then finishing waywardly under pressure from the opposition defenders.
Osimhen went closest soon after the half-hour mark, again taking the ball around Masudi after excellent work by Bassey, with Tanzania requiring retreating Bakari Nondo to clear off the goalline.
From the resulting corner, they had their opener, unmarked Semi Ajayi meeting Alex Iwobi’s delightful cross into the box to head into the corner of the Tanzanian net in the 36th minute.
As was the case at the last Nations Cup, when Nigeria’s strikers failed to find the target, their central defenders stepped up to the mark.
Lookman could have added to their lead just before the break, having an effort saved from distance, while Chukwueze, following up, had his effort from point blank range deflected over the bar, and Osimhen failed with an overhead kick.
At the start of the second half, Nigeria’s star striker thought he’d added a second for the three-time champions, but his fine finish from clos -range after Adams’ cross was ruled offside by the Video Assistant Referee.
Moments later, Tanzania had restored parity, Kokola M’Mombwa meeting an excellent cross from Novatus Miroshi at the back post with a low volley that beat Nwabali in the 50th minute.
Their lead lasted all of two minutes, with Lookman capitalising on some loose Tanzanian defending and finishing sharply from outside the box to restore Nigeria’s advantage, having been picked out by Iwobi.
The Super Eagles had ample opportunity to further extend their lead, with Lookman deflecting over after an Osimhen knock-down on the hour mark, while Iwobi fired over after bursting into the box and forging some space with some imaginative footwork five minutes later.
Osimhen himself forced a save from Masudi moments later as Nigeria upped the ante, while an offside flag spared Msuva’s blushes when he spurned a golden chance after more impressive work from Rochdale’s Tarryn Allarakhia down Tanzania’s left.
Nigeria continue their Group C campaign against Tunisia in Fes on Dec. 27, before meeting Uganda in their final first round match three days later.
The Taifa Stars will look to get some first points on the board when they face off with the Cranes in a CECAFA derby in their next matches, before concluding their campaign against Tunisia in Rabat.
