TACTICAL ANALYSIS AFCON 2025: How Nigeria overcame Tanzania's organised block
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Reading Time: 6min | Wed. 24.12.25. | 12:28
The result showed how Nigeria can be lethal but to go all the way may need more control and dominate in games
Nigeria’s 2-1 victory over Tanzania was a tale of exploitation of defensive lapses, concentration, and focus coupled with moments of clinical finishing, but also a reminder that the Super Eagles remain a work in progress when it comes to dominating the final third against organized opposition.
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Eric Chele’s side lined up in a flexible 4-4-2 diamond, with Stanley Nwabali in goal, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Zaidu Sanusi as the full-backs, Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey forming a solid central partnership.
Wilfred Ndidi anchoring midfield, and a creative trio of Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, and Ademola Lookman supporting the front two of Akor Adams and Victor Osimhen.
Stanley Nwabali's intelligent positioning as Nigeria's goalkeeper - dropping between the wide centre-backs during patient build-up phases - created a temporary three-man backline, allowing the Super Eagles to form a numerical advantage (3v2) against the opponent's first pressing line and calmly bypass pressure with short, progressive passes.
Tanzania, under coach Miguel Gamondi, opted for a compact 4-2-3-1 that often resembled a 4-4-2 out of possession.
Foba Zuberi in goal, a back four of Shomari Kapombe, Bakari Mwamnyeto, Ibrahim Hamad, and Hussein Mohamed, a double pivot of Alphonce Msanga and Novatus Miroshi, Charles Mmombwa as the advanced midfielder flanked by Tarryn Allarakhia and Simon Msuva, and veteran Mbwana Samatta leading the line as a focal point for hold-up play and third-man combinations.
From the opening whistle, Nigeria asserted control with an aggressive counter-pressing system out of possession and quick vertical passes into the channels when in possession. Iwobi dropped deep to dictate tempo alongside Ndidi, while Chukwueze frequently drifted infield from the right, allowing Osayi-Samuel to overlap and create overloads. Tanzania defended in a mid-block 4-4-2, delaying corner execution with a mix of zonal and man-marking that frustrated Nigeria’s aerial threats early on.
Tanzania's 4-4-2 mid-block unraveled whenever the right winger and right-back jumped unsynchronized with relation to the whole defensive unit on pressing triggers, leaving massive exploitable gaps that Nigeria repeatedly targeted with overloads and diagonal runs.
The Taifa Stars relied heavily on long diagonal switches or direct balls over the top to Samatta, hoping his physical presence would disrupt Nigeria’s high defensive line and create transitions.
While this approach occasionally stretched the Super Eagles, Tanzania struggled to progress beyond the first recovery, often resorting to hopeful long balls that lacked a consistent outlet in the final third.
Nigeria’s opener in the 36th minute exemplified their ability to capitalize on set-piece opportunities and defensive lapses.
A short corner routine found Iwobi in the right half-space, and his precise delivery was met by an unmarked Ajayi, who rose powerfully to head home.
The goal exposed Tanzania’s vulnerability at the near post and a momentary lack of organization in zonal marking. Just two minutes later, Nigeria nearly doubled their lead when Osimhen rounded the goalkeeper after an excellent off-ball movement, only for Mwamnyeto to clear off the line.
These chances highlighted a recurring theme: Nigeria consistently exploited the space between Tanzania’s left center-back and left-back, as well as gaps on the opposite flank, using positional rotations and intelligent movement to pull defenders out of position.
Tanzania defended resiliently, reducing Nigeria to half-chances for much of the half, but their passivity in attacking areas meant they rarely threatened Nwabali beyond sporadic long-range efforts with less high-quality chances.
The second half began with Nigeria continuing to probe Tanzania’s right defensive side, where they were repeatedly exposed.
Akor Adams showcased impressive mobility, making diagonal runs to the right channel that stretched the backline and created space for Osimhen.
The striker thought he had scored a delightful first-touch finish in the 49th minute, only to be flagged marginally offside. Barely a minute later,
Tanzania equalized in stunning fashion.
M’mombwa received the ball in the right wide blindside after the ball from Miroshi shifted Nigeria’s block, and then delicately he lifted a finish over Nwabali after the perfectly weighted through ball exploited the high defensive line.
Samatta’s hold-up play and decoy run played a crucial role, dragging markers and creating the pocket for Mmombwa’s run.
The goal was a rare moment of clinical quality from Tanzania in the final third and punished Nigeria’s momentary lapse in compactness during transition.
Nigeria’s response was immediate and decisive. In the 52nd minute, Lookman restored the lead with a moment of pure class: collecting Iwobi’s pass just outside the box, he took one touch to set himself and rifled a precise left-footed shot into the far corner despite four Tanzanian defenders in front of him.
The finish underlined Nigeria’s superior individual quality in attacking areas and their ability to punish even the smallest defensive hesitation. Tanzania’s backline had stepped up fractionally too late, allowing Lookman the half-yard needed to strike cleanly.
From that point, Nigeria managed the tempo expertly, slowing play when necessary and accelerating through Moses Simon after his introduction.
Moses Simon, alongside Dele-Bashiru, shifted the shape to a more conventional 4-2-3-1 with natural width, stretching Tanzania further and providing isolation opportunities on the left. Particularly, Simon’s directness and ability to beat his man consistently drew fouls and opened central corridors for Iwobi, Lookman and Ndidi, who combined in midfield.
Tanzania grew into the latter stages, showing belief and hunger with sustained pressure.
They began exploiting Nigeria’s left side—particularly the blind side behind Sanusi—with crosses and quick one-twos, while long diagonal switches lured Nigeria deep before isolating runners on the far side.
They came close twice in the final minutes: once on a swift counter and again from a corner, using asymmetric overloads and field tilt to pin Nigeria back. Yet, their lack of consistent quality in the final third proved costly.
Promising transitions often broke down due to poor final balls or hesitation, and despite moments of promise from Mmombwa and Samatta, they failed to truly test Nwabali beyond the equalizer.
Nigeria's high line was repeatedly targeted, and passive moments during Tanzanian transitions allowed gaps to open.
However, Ndidi’s positional discipline and drifting to cover advancing full-backs provided crucial balance. The midfield diamond facilitated central progression, with rotations between Iwobi, Chukwueze, and Lookman constantly occupying half-spaces and pulling markers apart.
Tanzania’s compactness frustrated Nigeria for spells, but once gaps appeared, the Super Eagles were clinical in exploitation. Osimhen and Adams stretched the backline vertically, while Lookman and later Simon provided the horizontal threat.
Ultimately, Nigeria’s victory hinged on superior individual moments and ruthless punishment of defensive errors.
Tanzania defended with discipline and organization for large periods, limiting Nigeria to controllable half-chances, but lapses proved decisive. In attack, the Taifa Stars showed flashes of clever third-man movements and direct running but lacked the end product to convert pressure into clear opportunities.
Nigeria, for all their dominance in possession and territory, will know it can be more proactive in breaking down compact blocks rather than relying on isolated brilliance. Still, three points from a tricky opener represent a solid start, built on clinical finishing and tactical flexibility rather than total control.
