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Archive photo · 26 November 2021Super Eagles Beat Tanzania 3-1 in Uyo as Tolu Arokodare Scores Twice
7 Other2 Western Mainstream1 African1 West AsianPhoto: Hadassah Photostorie group, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped for layout
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Nigeria beat Tanzania 3-1 in Uyo to revive AFCON qualifying hopes. Tolu Arokodare scored a brace in the second half.
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Chelle backs Super Eagles
Nigeria’s Super Eagles beat Tanzania 3-1 in Uyo to revive their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, with Tolu Arokodare scoring twice after coming off the bench. Eric Chelle challenged his players to “do everything to win” as Nigeria prepared for a crucial double-header against Tanzania, after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in their previous outing. Nigeria took an early lead when Alhassan Yusuf scored in the second minute at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, but Alphonce Msanga equalised just after the half-hour mark.
“‘We must work hard in these two matches and do everything to win.”
Arokodare restored Nigeria’s advantage in the 52nd minute by flicking home Wilfred Ndidi’s low ball, and he then extended the lead eight minutes later by smashing in from 12 yards after controlling Moses Usor’s cross. With three games played in Group L, Chelle’s side moved to one point behind leaders Guinea-Bissau after the group’s other results, including Guinea-Bissau drawing 1-1 with Madagascar.
Arokodare’s brace swings it
Tolu Arokodare’s second-half impact shaped the match as Nigeria made changes at half-time, bringing him on for Tochukwu Nnadi and Moses Usor on for Yusuf. The BBC described how Arokodare “climbed off the bench at half-time” to restore Nigeria’s lead in the 52nd minute, before scoring again eight minutes later. Flashscore said Arokodare’s brace came after Nigeria’s early goal and Tanzania’s equaliser, with Alphonce Msanga converting a pass from Novatus Miroshi to beat goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
The match also featured an injury moment for Nigeria when Lookman picked up an injury and was replaced by Moses Simon shortly before half-time, leaving the teams level at 1-1 at the break. Nigeria then turned the contest in the closing stages, with the result taking them to six points from three matches and setting up a return fixture in Zanzibar on Tuesday, November 17.
Qualification pressure and next leg
Nigeria’s win kept the qualification race tight in Group L, with the BBC stating that the Super Eagles were battling for the one qualification spot available in Group L and had little margin for error after losing 3-0 in Guinea-Bissau in September. Channels Television said Nigeria opened their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Madagascar on September 25 but then lost to Guinea-Bissau four days later, leaving them with three points from two matches and three behind group leaders Guinea-Bissau. Tanzania entered the double-header with their AFCON place already secured as co-hosts alongside Kenya and Uganda, and the beIN SPORTS live preview said the Taifa Stars were led by Miguel Gamondi.
beIN SPORTS also said Nigeria would return to Zanzibar for the second meeting at Amaan Stadium on Tuesday, November 17, after hosting Tanzania at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, November 13. With the next leg approaching, Chelle’s pre-match message framed the stakes as a need to sustain hope and deliver results across both encounters, while the match outcome left Nigeria second in Group L behind Guinea-Bissau.
