Staff Writer
The Super Eagles are back on track. Nigeria beat Tanzania 3-1 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, 13 November 2026, in Group L of the AFCON 2027 qualifiers. Substitute Tolu Arokodare scored twice after the break to settle it.
The win comes after a painful 3-0 defeat away to Guinea-Bissau in the last round, so this was a match coach Eric Chelle's side could not afford to drop. As Pulse Nigeria put it, "There was little room for error."
How the goals came
Yusuf 2' (1-0): Nigeria started fast. Alhassan Yusuf scored in the second minute, set up by Ademola Lookman.
Msanga 32' (1-1): Tanzania hit back just after the half-hour mark. Alphonce Msanga finished from Novatus Miroshi's pass to level the game.
Arokodare 52' (2-1): Chelle made changes at half-time, bringing on Arokodare and Moses Usor for Tochukwu Nnadi and Yusuf, according to Blueprint. It paid off quickly. Seven minutes after the restart, Arokodare restored the lead with a backheel from Wilfred Ndidi's cross, as SportsRation describes.
Arokodare 60' (3-1): Eight minutes later he struck again, with a low finish from Usor's cross that put the game beyond Tanzania.
Nigeria in control
The numbers show how much Nigeria dominated. According to The Sun, the Super Eagles had:
- 67.8% of possession
- 17 shots to Tanzania's 9
- 7 shots on target
- 543 passes at 86.2% accuracy
Even so, the first half was tighter than it should have been. Tanzania's equaliser came against the run of play, and Nigeria needed the half-time changes to take control.
Worries for Chelle
The win came with concerns. Pulse reports that Lookman was forced off with what looked like an injury, and that Calvin Bassey was also substituted after appearing uncomfortable. The extent of either problem has not been confirmed. With the return game only days away, their fitness is one of the main stories to follow.
Where Nigeria stand
The win takes Nigeria to 6 points, just behind group leaders Guinea-Bissau. Nigeria's campaign so far:
- Beat Madagascar 2-1
- Lost 3-0 to Guinea-Bissau
- Beat Tanzania 3-1
Tanzania have already qualified as co-hosts of AFCON 2027, alongside Kenya and Uganda. That leaves Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar fighting for places from this group, so every point against Tanzania is valuable.
Arokodare's big night
For Arokodare, this was a strong statement. Coming off the bench and scoring twice in eight minutes is exactly what a coach wants from a substitute. Nigeria have plenty of attacking talent, and nights like this make it harder to leave him out of the starting line-up.
What to watch next
- The return leg: Nigeria face Tanzania again on Tuesday, 17 November 2026, in Zanzibar, per Blueprint.
- Fitness news on Lookman and Bassey before the trip.
- Whether Arokodare starts after his match-winning cameo.
- Guinea-Bissau's results, which will shape how much pressure Nigeria are under in the final rounds.
Sources: Blueprint; Pulse Nigeria; The Sun; SportsRation