By: Manoah Kikekon
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| AFCON 2025 |
FES, Morocco – The Super Eagles of Nigeria began their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Tanzania on Tuesday, but head coach Eric Chelle was quick to label his team's performance as "not good enough."
In a tense Group C opener at the Fes Stadium, Nigeria displayed flashes of quality but also worrying lapses, a mix that left the coaching staff with clear homework despite the winning start.
Nervy Start for Nigeria in AFCON 2025
West Brom defender Semi Ajayi, who would later be named Man of the Match, settled Nigerian nerves in the 36th minute, rising highest to power a header into the net and give the Eagles a deserved lead at halftime.
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| Eric Sekou Chelle [Credit; Punch Newspaper] |
However, the momentum shifted just five minutes after the restart. Tanzania’s Charles M’Mombwa capitalized on defensive uncertainty to rifle home an equalizer, suddenly putting Nigeria's campaign on shaky ground.
The response, however, was immediate. Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman showcased his clinical edge, restoring Nigeria's lead just two minutes later with a fierce strike from outside the box, ultimately proving to be the match-winner.
Chelle: "We Have to Improve with Every Game"
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Coach Eric Chelle emphasized that the result, while positive, papered over cracks that must be addressed. "The most important thing at the AFCON is to improve with every game," Chelle stated. "We have to analyse this win because we did a lot of good things... but in the second half, we gave Tanzania the chance to come back."
The Malian-born tactician pinpointed defensive errors and off-the-ball movement as key areas for focus. "We have to improve, obviously defensively, and we have to make more movements when we don’t have the ball," he admitted, looking ahead to the next fixture. "It is going to be a big game against Tunisia because they are a big team."
Ajayi Echoes Coach's Sentiment After Scoring
Match-winner Semi Ajayi echoed his manager's call for progression, acknowledging the team must learn to control games better. "There are lots of things we can improve on," Ajayi conceded. "We are definitely aware of things to do to be better in terms of seeing out the game and killing teams off."
On his crucial opening goal, the defender highlighted the importance of a collective scoring effort. "It is always an amazing feeling to score for your country... It showed that we are one team. We cannot only rely on attackers to get goals. Everyone needs to chip in if we want to do well in the tournament."
Road to AFCON 2025 Glory Begins with Win
The victory places Nigeria provisionally atop Group C with three points, providing a crucial platform for their campaign. The focus now shifts rapidly to a heavyweight clash against North African giants Tunisia, a match that will offer a sterner test of the Super Eagles' title credentials.
For Eric Chelle and his squad, the message is clear: the win over Tanzania is a step forward, but the performance must evolve significantly if Nigeria is to soar deep into the tournament in Morocco.