Tanzania head coach Miguel Gamondi
Tanzania head coach Miguel Gamondi has commended his players’ performance following their 2–1 loss to Nigeria in their opening match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), insisting there were encouraging signs despite the continued wait for the country’s first victory at the tournament.
The Taifa Stars fell behind in the first half after Super Eagles defender Semi Ajayi opened the scoring for Nigeria, but Tanzania responded strongly after the restart. Charles M’Mombwa restored parity in the 50th minute, raising hopes of a famous result against one of Africa’s football powerhouses.
However, Nigeria quickly reclaimed the lead through Ademola Lookman, whose decisive strike proved enough to secure all three points for the Super Eagles. Tanzania pressed hard for an equaliser in the closing stages and came close late on, but Ibrahim Hamad volleyed wide from a corner as Nigeria held firm.
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Speaking after the match, Gamondi, who took charge of the Tanzanian team barely a month before AFCON 2025, said he was pleased with his side’s organisation and resilience against a top opponent.
“I think Tanzania played better than many people expected,” the Argentine coach said. “Nigeria had a lot of possession, but we neutralised them well through our tactical system. Most of their chances came from individual quality, which is normal at this level.”
Despite the defeat extending Tanzania’s AFCON winless run to 10 matches, Gamondi expressed optimism that his team can still make an impact in the group. The Taifa Stars will aim to bounce back when they face Uganda on Saturday, before rounding off their group-stage campaign against Tunisia next Tuesday.
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