Tunisia made a perfect start to their TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 campaign with a convincing 3–1 victory over Uganda on Tuesday evening at the Annex Olympic Stadium of the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat.
The Carthage Eagles took early control of the contest and opened the scoring in the 10th minute through Elyes Skhiri, who finished off a well-worked team move with a precise strike.
In full command of proceedings, Tunisia maintained their tempo and doubled their lead just before the break, with Elias Achouri showing great composure inside the box to score in the 40th minute.
After half-time, Samy Trabelsi’s men continued to assert their dominance. Solid and well organised throughout, they put the result beyond doubt in the 64th minute when Achouri completed his brace with a clinical finish.
Uganda pulled one back in stoppage time through Denis Omedi, capitalising on a slight lapse in concentration from the Tunisians late on. The goal, however, had no impact on the final outcome, with Tunisia firmly in control by that stage.
With this assured performance, Tunisia get their Group C campaign off to an ideal start and immediately signal their ambitions in the competition.
Nigeria opened their TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 campaign with a hard-earned 2–1 victory over Tanzania on Tuesday evening, as Ademola Lookman struck the winner barely a minute after the Taifa Stars had drawn level.
The Super Eagles had controlled much of the first half and were rewarded nine minutes before the interval when Semi Ajayi rose highest to power home a header from an Alex Iwobi delivery. The corner had been won moments earlier after Tanzanian defender Bakari Mwamnyeto cleared Victor Osimhen’s close-range effort off the line.
That goal reflected Nigeria’s growing authority, with Osimhen, Lookman and Moses Simon stretching the Tanzanian back line through pace and movement. Despite that dominance, the Super Eagles were unable to extend their lead before the break and went into half-time just one goal ahead.
The second half exploded into life almost immediately. Nigeria thought they had doubled their advantage inside the opening minute when Osimhen backheeled into the net, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside following a VAR check.
Tanzania seized the momentum moments later. A perfectly weighted pass from Novatus Dismas split the defence, allowing Charles M’Mbowa to burst through and slide a composed finish past Stanley Nwabali to bring the scores level.
Any belief Tanzania had of building on that equaliser was short-lived. Within sixty seconds, Lookman produced a moment of class, curling an unstoppable effort from the edge of the area beyond the reach of the goalkeeper to restore Nigeria’s lead and silence the Tanzanian celebrations.
From there, Nigeria managed the contest with maturity, keeping possession and limiting clear chances. Tanzania pushed for a late equaliser and came close in the closing minutes when Ibrahim Hamad volleyed wide from a corner, but the Super Eagles held firm to see out the victory.
Senegal made a powerful statement at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 as they swept aside Botswana 3–0 in Tangier on Tuesday, with Nicolas Jackson scoring in each half to underline their title credentials.
Despite Senegal’s early dominance, Botswana goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko produced a series of outstanding saves to keep the scoreline level through much of the first half.
The Zebras’ stopper denied Jackson twice at close range, reacted sharply to keep out efforts from Sadio Mané, and produced another fine intervention to stop Iliman Ndiaye as Senegal pressed relentlessly.
The breakthrough eventually arrived five minutes before the interval. Ismail Jakobs delivered a precise cross from the left, and Jackson met it first time with a composed finish that finally gave Senegal a deserved lead and eased any growing frustration.
The second half followed a similar pattern. Senegal continued to dictate the tempo and doubled their advantage in the 58th minute. This time, Ismaila Sarr was the provider, sliding a pass into Jackson’s path, and the striker showed good composure to finish clinically for his second of the night.
