AFCONQ: Nigeria Dims Taifa Stars of Tanzania 3-1 in Group L.
The Nigerian Super Eagles on Friday deemed the Taifa Stars of Tanzania 3-1 to climb to the 2nd position in group L of that African Cup of Nations AFCON qualifiers played in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Playing before a capacity crowd of 30,000 fans with Ref Ndala Jean Jacques of Democratic Republic of Congo as Centre Ref, Ajax Amsterdam forward, Tolu Arokodare wrecked the Taifa Stars with a brace.
Tolu scored Nigeria’s 2nd goal in the 52nd minute from Captain Wilfred Ndidi pass after he came in for Nnadi Tochukwu in the 46th minute and topped up the goal count in the 60th minute when Moses Usor sent him a telepathic pass that confused the Tanzanian defence.
Nigeria ranked 30 in the world compared to Tanzania ranked 115 had scored the 1st goal in the 2nd minute of play when some fans were still struggling to have access into the Godswill Akpabio Stadium when Demola Lookman laced Midfielder Yusuf Alhassan to score but Tanzanian Midfielder, Msanga Alojonce got an assist from Novatus Miroshi to equalize in the 32nd minute.
Two players from both sides had to be stretchered off the pitch. Ademola Lookman in the 45+3 minute replaced by Simon Moses and Hamad Ibrahim in the 56th minute replaced by Mmembwa Charles.
Nigeria displayed Tanzania in every department of the game in Uyo playing fanciful passes of 543-260; with 68-32% ball possessions; making 17-9 shots at goal of which 7-2 were on target as Nigeria got 6-3 corner kick advantage but the Taifa Stars Goalkeeper reminded me of Juma Pondamali who kept for Taifa Stars in the 80s against the Green Eagles who Shooting Stars of Ibadan fans call ‘Baba Sala’ because of his theatrics in goal for Young Africans of Tanzania in Ibadan in 1980 when Chief Bola Ige was Governor. I was on Commentaries with Tolu Fatoyinbo and Henry Akinsoyinu. I remember Dapo Akinrunola aka Africa was the Chief Press Secretary then. Much memories of Pandamali but this Goalkeeper saved Tanzania with 7 close shots when Bobo Nwabali of Nigeria saved 2.
Five times it has been on record Nigeria and Tanzania met at Men’s senior level. On 6th December 1980 Nigeria drew with Tanzania 1-1 in Lagos and on 20th December same year Nigeria won 2-0 in Tanzania to qualify for next stage of the world cup. On 5th September 2015 Nigeria that are three times AFCON champions drew 0-0; won 1-0 on 3rd September 2016 and on 23rd May 2025 beat the Stars 2-1 all AFCON matches.
Read Also:2027AFCONQ: Wild Dogs of Guinea Bissau Thrash Super Eagles 3-0.
In this group L, Madagascar plated 1-1 with Tanzania; Tanzania lost 0-2 to Guinea Bissau; Nigeria beat Madagascar 2-1 and lost 0-3 to Guinea Bissau.
At the end of Match Day 3, Guinea Bissau that played 1-1 with Madagascar yesterday still tops Group L with 7 points scoring 6 goals and conceding one; Nigeria is now 2nd with 6 points scoring 5 goals and conceding 5; Madagascar is 3rd with 2 points 3 goals and conceding 4 and Tanzania rocks the bottom with just a point scoring 2 goals and conceding 6.
Nigeria is to play Tanzania away on Tuesday while Guinea Bissau will play Madagascar on Day 4. CAF has scheduled that only group leaders will qualify for the AFCON final next year.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
#CAF #CECAFA #COSAFA
#UNAFAC #WAFU #UNIFFAC
#NFF #TFF.
