Tunisia finally broke a long-standing Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, opening-day curse on Tuesday night, as Elias Achouri’s brace powered the Carthage Eagles to a commanding 3-1 victory over Uganda in Rabat.
The North Africans had not won their first match at the AFCON finals in 12 years, but their Group C opener at the 2025 tournament ended that drought emphatically. Ellyes Skhiri set the tone early, rifling Tunisia into the lead after just 10 minutes. Achouri doubled the advantage before the break and returned shortly after the hour mark to seal the win, underlining Tunisia’s attacking intent. Uganda managed a late consolation goal through Denis Omedi deep into stoppage time, but by then, the outcome was beyond doubt.
The result lifts Tunisia to the top of Group C on goal difference, ahead of Nigeria, with Tanzania in third place and Uganda at the bottom, setting the stage for a mouth-watering clash between Tunisia and Nigeria in the coming fixtures.
In Fes, Nigeria overcame a stern challenge from Tanzania, securing a 2-1 win in Group C. The Super Eagles dominated much of the first half, creating several chances, including a header from Akor Adams that rattled the woodwork and a close-range attempt from Victor Osimhen that was expertly denied.
The breakthrough came in the 36th minute when Semi Ajayi powered home Alex Iwobi’s inviting cross from a corner. Tanzania briefly silenced the Nigerian fans in the second half as Charles M’Mombwa equalised, but Nigeria responded almost immediately. Just 108 seconds later, Ademola Lookman restored the lead with a thunderous left-footed strike, assisted again by Iwobi.
Despite several late opportunities for Tanzania, Nigeria held on thanks to crucial interventions from Calvin Bassey and a missed chance by Ibrahim Hamad. The win leaves the Super Eagles well positioned in Group C, building anticipation for their upcoming showdown with Tunisia.
Group D action saw Senegal assert their authority with a routine 3-0 victory over Botswana at the Grand Stade de Tanger. Nicolas Jackson scored once in each half, while substitute Cherif Ndiaye added a late third to secure the points. Jackson was a constant menace, opening the scoring in the 40th minute from an Ismail Jakobs cut-back and doubling the lead just before the hour mark with a composed finish. Botswana goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko made a string of impressive saves to prevent the scoreline from becoming more lopsided.
Earlier, DR Congo narrowly defeated Benin 1-0 in a tense contest marked by missed chances and late drama. Théo Bongonda’s first-half strike proved decisive after Benin’s defence hesitated, allowing the winger to slot calmly into the corner. Cedric Bakambu thought he had doubled the lead soon after the restart, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside. Benin pressed for an equaliser late in the match, but DR Congo held firm, extending their impressive run on foreign soil to six consecutive victories.
Looking Ahead: Wednesday’s Fixtures
Attention now turns to Wednesday’s fixtures, with more group-stage drama expected:
Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea, 1:30 p.m.
Algeria vs Sudan, 4:00 p.m.
Ivory Coast vs Mozambique, 6:30 p.m.
Cameroon vs Gabon, 9:00 p.m.
Fans can expect thrilling matches as teams battle for supremacy in the group stage, with qualification for the knockout rounds hanging in the balance. With top players in form and early surprises already shaping the tournament, the 2025 AFCON promises to deliver high drama, excitement, and unforgettable moments.
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