Nigeria’s Super Eagles revived their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a dominant 3–1 victory over Tanzania on Friday, November 13, 2026, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
Driven by a clinical second-half brace from substitute Tolu Arokodare, head coach Éric Chelle’s side bounced back from September’s 3–0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau and climbed to six points in Group L, keeping pace just one point behind the group leaders.
Playing without injured regulars Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, and Frank Onyeka, Nigeria wasted no time asserting control in front of the Uyo crowd. Within two minutes of kickoff, Ademola Lookman carved open the Tanzanian backline to set up midfielder Alhassan Yusuf, who finished calmly to hand the hosts a 1–0 lead. The Super Eagles dictated the tempo early on, though Yusuf picked up the game’s only booking in the 12th minute.
Despite Nigeria’s territorial dominance, Tanzania weathered the storm and punished a lapse in defensive concentration just past the half-hour mark. In the 32nd minute, Novatus Miroshi found Alphonce Msanga inside the area, and the midfielder fired past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to level the contest at 1–1.
Lookman nearly restored Nigeria’s advantage shortly before the break when Alex Iwobi picked him out in the box, only for a sliding Tanzanian challenge to block his effort. Disaster struck for the hosts during first-half stoppage time when Lookman went down injured and had to be replaced by Moses Simon in the 48th minute, leaving the teams deadlocked at the interval.
Chelle responded aggressively at halftime, introducing striker Tolu Arokodare for Tochukwu Nnadi and winger Moses Usor for goalscorer Alhassan Yusuf. The double switch transformed Nigeria’s attack within seven minutes of the restart. In the 52nd minute, captain Wilfred Ndidi drove forward and delivered a sharp cutback into the penalty area, where Arokodare produced an inventive backheel finish past goalkeeper Aishi Manula to make it 2–1.
Eight minutes later, Nigeria’s two halftime substitutes combined to put the match out of reach. Usor broke down the flank and whipped a precise cross into the box for Arokodare, who tucked a low finish into the net in the 60th minute to complete his brace and extend the cushion to 3–1. Tanzania coach Miguel Gamondi responded with a triple substitution in the 66th minute, bringing on Simon Msuva, Iddy Seleman Nado, and Shekhani Khamis, and the Taifa Stars pushed forward late on.
However, a crucial block from Ola Aina in the 74th minute and a composed save from Nwabali in the 80th minute preserved the two-goal margin, while Arokodare nearly sealed a hat-trick late on with an effort straight at Manula.
By the final whistle, Nigeria’s superiority was reflected across the match metrics, finishing with 68 percent ball possession, 17 total shots (seven on target) compared to Tanzania’s nine shots (two on target), and 37 touches inside the opposition box.
Nigeria lined up in a 4-4-2 formation featuring Stanley Nwabali; Abdullahi Bewene, Benjamin Fredrick, Calvin Bassey, and Ola Aina (Semi Ajayi 90+3′); Alhassan Yusuf (Moses Usor 46′), Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, and Tochukwu Nnadi (Tolu Arokodare 46′); Akor Adams (Fisayo Dele-Bashiru 78′) and Ademola Lookman (Moses Simon 45+3′). Tanzania started in a 4-3-3 setup with Aishi Manula; Haji Mnoga, Ibrahim Hamad (Charles M’Mombwa 56′), Bakari Mwamnyeto, and Anthony Richard Mligo (Abdul Suleiman 85′); Alphonce Msanga, Novatus Miroshi, and Himid Mao Mkami (Shekhani Khamis 67′); Cyprian Kachwele (Iddy Seleman Nado 66′), Denis Kibu (Simon Msuva 66′), and Nathaniel Chilambo.
The two nations will immediately renew their rivalry in the reverse Matchday 4 fixture on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar, with kickoff scheduled for 2:00 PM WAT. Because Tanzania are already assured of a place at the 2027 finals as tournament co-hosts alongside Kenya and Uganda, only the highest-finishing side among Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, and Madagascar will claim Group L’s sole qualification berth, making another positive result in Zanzibar vital for the Super Eagles’ campaign.
