THE TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 roared into life on Tuesday evening with a captivating slate of matches that delivered everything from commanding performances to heart-stopping drama, as four nations stamped their authority on the opening round of group stage fixtures.
Tunisia announce their arrival with commanding victory
Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles soared at the Annex Olympic Stadium of the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, dismantling Uganda 3-1 in a performance that announced their title credentials to the continent.
The North African side seized control from the opening whistle, with Elyes Skhiri breaking the deadlock after just ten minutes, converting a beautifully orchestrated team move with clinical precision. The early strike set the tone for an evening of Tunisian dominance that left Paul Put’s Uganda side chasing shadows for long stretches.
Elias Achouri emerged as the star of the show, delivering a masterclass in attacking play. The forward doubled Tunisia’s advantage five minutes before the interval, demonstrating remarkable composure to finish inside a crowded penalty area. His evening’s work was far from complete, however, as he returned after the break to complete his brace in the 64th minute with another clinical finish that effectively killed the contest.
Despite the torrential rain that lashed the stadium throughout the match, Tunisia’s passing and movement remained crisp and purposeful under Sami Trabelsi’s guidance. Denis Omedi’s stoppage-time consolation for Uganda proved nothing more than a footnote to a comprehensive Tunisian victory.
“We showed them too much respect,” admitted Uganda coach Paul Put afterwards, his disappointment palpable. “If you play AFCON, you need to win the duels. We only had about 25 minutes of the game but the rest, we were on the backfoot.”
For Achouri, the hero of the hour, gratitude came before celebration. “Thank you to my teammates first of all for the great work they put in,” he said, before praising the supporters who braved the elements. “We hope we made them proud.”
Lookman’s lightning response rescues Nigeria
In one of the evening’s most dramatic encounters, Nigeria’s Super Eagles survived a significant scare against Tanzania, with Ademola Lookman producing a moment of individual brilliance barely sixty seconds after the Taifa Stars had drawn level.
The contest appeared to be following the script when Semi Ajayi powered home a header from Alex Iwobi’s delivery nine minutes before half-time, rewarding Nigeria’s first-half dominance. The Super Eagles had looked comfortable, with Victor Osimhen, Lookman and Moses Simon stretching Tanzania’s defense through pace and incisive movement.
But the second half delivered a plot twist that stunned everyone inside the stadium. Nigeria thought they had doubled their lead immediately after the restart when Osimhen backheeled into the net, only for VAR to rule the effort offside. Moments later, Tanzania capitalized on their reprieve with devastating effect. Novatus Dismas threaded a sublime pass through Nigeria’s defense, releasing Charles M’Mbowa to slide a composed finish past Stanley Nwabali and level the scores at 1-1.
The equalizer stood for precisely one minute.
Lookman, operating with the instincts of a true match-winner, collected possession on the edge of the area and unleashed an unstoppable curling effort that soared beyond the goalkeeper’s reach. It was a strike of sublime quality, delivered at the perfect psychological moment, and it silenced Tanzania’s celebrations before they had properly begun.
Nigeria managed the remainder of the contest with maturity, though Tanzania came agonizingly close to snatching a point when Ibrahim Hamad volleyed wide from a late corner.
“It’s an amazing feeling to score for your country,” beamed man of the match Ajayi afterwards. “We are a team, we don’t need to get goals only from the attackers.”
Coach Eric Chelle acknowledged his side’s work in progress. “The second part of the game shows clearly that there is still some work to be done, especially when it comes to killing the game. We are aware of this, and we will work on it.”
Tanzania’s Miguel Ángel Gamondi, meanwhile, departed with his head held high. “I think Tanzania played better than many people expected,” he reflected. “Overall, I believe we surprised a lot of people with the quality of our performance.”
Senegal issue ominous warning to rivals
If any nation served notice of their championship intentions on Tuesday, it was Senegal. The Lions of Teranga produced a display of overwhelming superiority in Tangier, crushing Botswana 3-0 in a performance that combined relentless pressure with clinical finishing.
Nicolas Jackson tormented the Zebras throughout, scoring twice to underline his growing reputation on the continental stage. Yet for much of the first half, Botswana goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko stood between Senegal and a cricket score, producing a string of spectacular saves that defied belief.
Phoko denied Jackson twice at close range, thwarted Sadio Mané’s efforts, and somehow kept out Iliman Ndiaye as wave after wave of Senegalese attacks crashed against his goal. But even the most heroic resistance has its limits, and the dam finally burst five minutes before half-time when Jackson met Ismail Jakobs’ precise cross with a composed first-time finish.
The second half followed an identical pattern of Senegalese dominance. Jackson doubled his tally in the 58th minute, converting Ismaila Sarr’s clever through ball with assured technique. Substitute Cherif Ndiaye added gloss to the scoreline two minutes from time, sweeping home Cheikh Sabaly’s low cross to complete a comprehensive victory.
“I am very happy to have started on this note by scoring two goals,” said Jackson, the man of the match. “Hopefully, it is the start of many goals to come.”
Coach Pape Thiaw praised his team’s professionalism against opponents who made life difficult. “We faced a very strong team, with a deep and compact defensive block. What I take away from this match is the team’s professionalism.”
DR Congo edge tense encounter with Benin
At the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat, DR Congo’s Leopards demonstrated the value of efficiency over extravagance, securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory against a depleted but determined Benin side.
Théo Bongonda’s 16th-minute strike proved decisive, the forward capitalizing on a defensive lapse to slot calmly past Saturnin Allagbé. It was a goal that reflected DR Congo’s sharp start, the Leopards arriving with confidence following their qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup play-offs.
The Congolese continued to threaten after breaking through, with Cédric Bakambu forcing Allagbé into a fine one-on-one save and seeing another effort ruled out for offside. Yet Benin, missing five suspended regular starters, refused to surrender. The Cheetahs sought to respond through rapid counter-attacks and set-piece situations, attempting to disrupt their opponents’ rhythm at every opportunity.
As the clock wound down, Benin pushed forward with increasing desperation, but lacked the cutting edge required to breach a disciplined Congolese defense that dealt comfortably with everything thrown at them.
“It was a difficult match,” admitted Bongonda, who claimed the man of the match award. “When you look at this AFCON, no team wins easily. The most important thing is to keep moving forward.”
Benin coach Gernot Rohr, despite the defeat, found reasons for optimism. “My team made me proud. It was the first time we played with this system. We will now prepare well for the match against Botswana, with the advantage of having our suspended players back.”
The Verdict: After an enthralling opening round of fixtures, Tunisia, Nigeria, Senegal and DR Congo have drawn first blood in their respective groups. But if Tuesday’s action proved anything, it’s that this tournament will yield nothing easily. The drama has only just begun.
