AFCON 2025: Tunisia Break Opening-Day Curse as Senegal Nigeria and DR Congo Impress

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The opening round of matches at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations delivered excitement and decisive performances, with several top teams beginning their campaigns with impressive wins. Tunisia, Nigeria, Senegal, and the Democratic Republic of Congo all secured victories that immediately set the tone for what promises to be a competitive tournament across the various groups.

One of the most notable stories of the day came from Tunisia, who finally shook off a long-standing streak of disappointing opening games at AFCON. After more than a decade without winning their first match of the tournament, the North African side produced a confident display against Uganda in Rabat to claim a convincing 3–1 triumph.

Tunisia began the encounter on the front foot, establishing control early in the game. Midfielder Ellyes Skhiri set the momentum when he broke the deadlock just ten minutes into the match, giving the Carthage Eagles the early advantage they had long struggled to secure in previous tournament openers.

As the game progressed toward halftime, Tunisia’s dominance became clearer. Elias Achouri doubled the lead before the break, finishing a well-worked attacking move that left Uganda’s defence struggling to contain the North African side’s fluid play.

Shortly after the hour mark, Achouri struck again to effectively seal the match for Tunisia. His second goal of the evening stretched the advantage further and ensured the Carthage Eagles maintained full control of the contest.

Uganda managed to grab a consolation goal through Denis Omedi during stoppage time, but the late effort did little to change the outcome. Tunisia’s victory was already secured, and the result placed them at the summit of Group C on goal difference.

While Tunisia celebrated in Rabat, Nigeria were also making a statement in their Group C opener. The Super Eagles faced Tanzania in a competitive contest that demanded resilience and tactical discipline from the Nigerian side.

Nigeria’s breakthrough arrived in the 36th minute when defender Semi Ajayi rose above the Tanzanian defence to power home a header from an Alex Iwobi corner kick. The goal gave Nigeria a deserved lead after a series of attacking attempts.

However, Tanzania responded strongly early in the second half. Charles M’Mombwa found the equaliser shortly after the restart, briefly shifting momentum and forcing Nigeria to regroup quickly.

The Nigerian response was swift and decisive. Just moments after conceding, Ademola Lookman restored Nigeria’s lead with a powerful strike, putting the Super Eagles back in control and energising their supporters.

Despite increased pressure from Tanzania late in the match, Nigeria’s defence stood firm. Important defensive interventions from Calvin Bassey helped protect the lead, while a missed opportunity by Ibrahim Hamad ensured Tanzania could not level the score again.

The result means Nigeria remain close behind Tunisia in Group C, setting up what could become one of the most anticipated fixtures of the early group stage when the two sides eventually meet.

Elsewhere in the tournament, Senegal began their campaign in dominant fashion. The reigning African champions delivered a commanding performance against Botswana, securing a comfortable 3–0 victory at the Grand Stade de Tanger.

Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson played a central role in Senegal’s attacking success. He opened the scoring late in the first half and added another goal before the hour mark, demonstrating his sharp finishing ability.

Although Jackson came close to completing a hat-trick, it was Cherif Ndiaye who eventually added Senegal’s third goal later in the match, rounding off a convincing win for the West African side.

Botswana’s goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko produced several impressive saves throughout the game, preventing the scoreline from becoming even more one-sided. Without his interventions, Senegal’s margin of victory might have been significantly larger.

In another tightly contested Group D encounter, DR Congo managed to secure a narrow but valuable victory against Benin. The match proved more tactical and cautious compared to some of the day’s other fixtures.

The decisive moment came in the first half when Théo Bongonda capitalised on hesitation within the Benin defence to score the only goal of the match. His strike ultimately proved enough to separate the two teams.

DR Congo nearly doubled their advantage when Cedric Bakambu found the back of the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Benin pushed forward late in search of an equaliser, yet their efforts failed to produce the breakthrough they needed.

With this win, DR Congo extended an impressive run of success away from home, recording their sixth consecutive victory outside their own territory.

The competition continues with several more group-stage encounters scheduled to take place the following day. These matches are expected to add further drama as additional teams begin their AFCON journeys.

Upcoming AFCON Matches

• Cameroon vs Gabon – 9:00 p.m.
• Ivory Coast vs Mozambique – 6:30 p.m.
• Algeria vs Sudan – 4:00 p.m.
• Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea – 1:30 p.m.

Commentary and Analysis

The first round of matches suggests that several traditional African football powerhouses are already asserting their influence in the tournament. Tunisia’s convincing win not only secured three points but also symbolically ended a frustrating streak that had followed them through previous AFCON editions.

Nigeria’s narrow victory highlighted the team’s ability to respond quickly to setbacks, a quality that could prove crucial as the competition progresses. Meanwhile, Senegal’s dominant performance reinforces their status as one of the favourites to challenge for the title.

DR Congo’s disciplined defensive display also demonstrates that tactical organisation can be just as effective as attacking flair in the early stages of tournament football. As the group stage unfolds, consistency and composure will likely determine which teams advance to the knockout rounds.

As more fixtures are played, the battle for qualification will intensify, and fans across the continent will be watching closely to see which nations maintain their early momentum.