Super Eagles Triumphs against Taifa Stars
By Wellington Jopelo
In a captivating Africa Cup of Nations Group C opener, the Super Eagles of Nigeria secured a hard‑fought 2–1 victory over Tanzania’s Taifa Stars at the Fez Stadium in Morocco. Nigeria’s win was powered by crucial goals and a spirited team performance that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
The scoring began in the 36th minute, when towering defender Semi Ajayi met Alex Iwobi’s precise delivery and powered a header into the net, giving Nigeria the lead before halftime.
Tanzania responded strongly after the break. Just four minutes into the second half, midfielder Charles M’Mombwa found space at the edge of the box and calmly slotted home to level the score, igniting hope among the underdog supporters.
But Nigeria’s star attacker Ademola Lookman restored the Super Eagles’ advantage in dramatic fashion in the 52nd minute, cutting inside defenders and unleashing a powerful strike past the goalkeeper to make it 2–1.
From that point on, Nigeria controlled much of the game, seeing out the remainder of the match with disciplined defending and smart midfield play, ultimately earning three valuable points to kickstart their AFCON campaign.
The result highlights Nigeria’s resolve in major tournament play, blending defensive grit with attacking flair — and gives fans plenty to celebrate as the Super Eagles look to go deep in this year’s competition.