Nigeria 3-1 Tanzania: the Super Eagles are back on track in the race for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Tolu Arokodare came off the bench at half-time and scored twice in eight second-half minutes as Eric Chelle‘s side beat Tanzania 3-1 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday night.
The win is Nigeria’s first in the qualifying campaign after the humbling 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in the previous window, and it moves the Super Eagles up to six points from three matches in Group L — one point behind leaders Guinea-Bissau, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Madagascar on Thursday.
It was the response Chelle needed, and it came without the two biggest names in his squad. Victor Osimhen is out after knee surgery and Samuel Chukwueze is sidelined following hip surgery, so the goals had to come from elsewhere. In the end, they came from the bench — and from a striker who had promised them in the morning.
Nigeria 3-1 Tanzania: dream start, then the equaliser
Nigeria could hardly have started better. Inside two minutes, Ademola Lookman slipped a pass through for Alhassan Yusuf, and the New England Revolution midfielder finished from close range to put the hosts ahead. It was the perfect opening in front of a loud Uyo crowd, and for the first half-hour the Super Eagles looked in complete control.
But Tanzania, who are already assured of a place at the 2027 tournament as co-hosts alongside Kenya and Uganda, refused to fold. Against the run of play, Alphonce Msanga levelled in the 32nd minute, capitalising on a defensive lapse to make it 1-1, and the teams went into the break level despite Nigeria’s early dominance.
There was a worry for Chelle before the break, too. Ademola Lookman was forced off injured, with Moses Simon taking his place, and no official word has yet been given on the severity of the problem or whether the Atletico Madrid forward will be available for Tuesday’s return leg.
Arokodare’s eight-minute brace turns it around
Chelle turned to his bench at half-time, introducing Tolu Arokodare and Moses Usor for Alhassan Yusuf and Tochukwu Nnadi — and the changes decided the game within 15 minutes of the restart.
In the 52nd minute, captain Wilfred Ndidi delivered a cross into the box and Arokodare finished it with a clever flick to restore Nigeria’s lead. Eight minutes later, the two substitutes combined again: Usor crossed from the left and Arokodare fired a low finish into the net to complete his brace and put the game beyond the visitors.
The Ajax striker, who had vowed earlier on Friday that he needed to score for the Super Eagles, even had a chance to complete his hat-trick, but the two goals were enough. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru came on for Akor Adams late on as Nigeria managed the closing stages, and the final whistle confirmed a 3-1 victory that eases the pressure on Chelle and his players.
The brace takes Arokodare’s Super Eagles tally to four goals in 13 appearances, and it underlines why Chelle kept faith with him despite the absence of Osimhen. On a night when Nigeria needed a finisher, the man off the bench delivered.
What the win means for Group L
Nigeria now sit second in Group L with six points, one behind Guinea-Bissau on seven, with Tanzania still searching for their first point of the campaign. The Super Eagles travel to Zanzibar for the return fixture at the Amaan Stadium on Tuesday, November 17, where another win would put them firmly in control of their qualification destiny.
For more on the qualifiers, check today’s predictions. The picture is much healthier than it was 24 hours ago — but the Lookman injury is the one cloud over a very good night in Uyo, and Chelle will be hoping his star forward is fit to travel.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0, Mtjonenfa) — collage by SportsBuddy
