Kigali, Rwanda – The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicked off with drama, skill, and heartbreak on day three, as both Uganda and Tanzania fell in hard-fought opening matches, showcasing grit even in defeat.
While former champions Senegal, Nigeria, and Tunisia recorded emphatic victories elsewhere, the Taifa Stars of Tanzania and Uganda Cranes were left rueing narrow losses, proving that their fighting spirit might make them dangerous opponents in the coming fixtures.
Taifa stars’ brave stand against Nigeria
In Fes, under relentless rain, Tanzania’s Taifa Stars displayed remarkable courage but ultimately succumbed 2-1 to Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
The match, held at Fes Stadium on December 23, was emotionally charged, with Tanzania seeking redemption after a humiliating 3-1 loss to Nigeria in Lagos in 1980, a defeat that still lingers in the memories of Tanzanian fans.
Nigeria dominated possession early, creating several opportunities and Victor Osimhen’s breakthrough moment in the 10th minute nearly opened the scoring, but a last-ditch tackle denied him.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 36th minute when Alex Iwobi’s precise cross found Semi Ajayi, who rose unmarked to head the ball into the net, giving Nigeria a 1-0 halftime lead.
Tanzania refused to back down. Just five minutes into the second half, Charles M’Mombwa capitalized on a defensive lapse, volleying past Nigeria’s defense to level the score at 1-1. The stadium erupted as the Taifa Stars appeared poised for a historic upset, their determination evident in every attack.
However, Nigeria’s quality proved decisive when, in the 62nd minute, Ademola Lookman showcased his individual brilliance, twisting past defenders before unleashing a powerful shot from outside the box that restored the Eagles’ lead.
Despite late Tanzanian pressure, including a close-range volley from Kelvin John and a wild effort by Ibrahim Hamad, the defense held firm, ensuring Nigeria claimed all three points.
Coach Eric Chelle praised his team’s resilience but emphasized improvement, stating, “The most important thing at the AFCON is to improve in every game… We have to improve defensively and put in more movement when we don’t have the ball.”
For Tanzania, the loss extended their AFCON winless streak to ten matches, a record they will be desperate to overturn.
Uganda cranes fall to Tunisia in Rabat
Elsewhere in Rabat, Uganda’s opening match against Tunisia ended in a 3-1 defeat, though the cranes showed flashes of promise. Tunisia struck early, with Ellyes Skhiri scoring after ten minutes in testing weather conditions.
Goals from Elias Achouri before and after halftime put Tunisia firmly in control, leaving Uganda with a difficult uphill battle.
In stoppage time, Denis Omedi pulled one back for the Cranes, but the late strike was too little, too late to salvage a point. Uganda head coach Paul Put admitted that his side had “shown them too much respect” and lamented a lack of aggression.
“You’re playing at the AFCON; you need to win your duels,” he said. Put added that while the defeat was disappointing, the team remains focused on bouncing back in their next fixture, with a draw unlikely to be enough for progression from the group stage.
Dominance elsewhere
While Tanzania and Uganda suffered narrow defeats, other Group D and C teams made strong statements. Senegal cruised past Botswana 3-0 in Tangier, with Chelsea loanee Nicolas Jackson scoring twice and Cherif Ndiaye adding a third.
Former Liverpool star Sadio Mane recorded six shots on target, the most in an AFCON match since 2010, though he was denied a goal by the impressive Botswana goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko.
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw praised his team’s professionalism, noting that their “commitment and discipline” underpinned the dominant display.
Nigeria’s victory over Tanzania was mirrored by Tunisia’s 3-1 triumph over Uganda, leaving both the Super Eagles and Carthage Eagles in strong positions as the tournament progresses.
DRC, meanwhile, edged Benin 1-0 in Rabat amid VAR controversy, highlighting the fine margins and drama that continue to define AFCON.
A handball by DRC captain Chancel Mbemba went unchecked due to a VAR malfunction, leaving Benin with a sense of injustice despite a valiant performance.
Looking ahead: Day four fixtures
The stage is now set for a pivotal day four of the tournament. Cameroon faces Gabon in Agadir, while reigning champions Ivory Coast take on Mozambique in Marrakesh. Algeria meets Sudan in Rabat, and Burkina Faso plays Equatorial Guinea in Casablanca.
For Uganda and Tanzania, the focus will be on regrouping and turning near misses into positive results. Both teams demonstrated resilience and skill in defeat, signaling that despite day three setbacks, they remain determined to make their mark at AFCON 2025.
