Nigeria’s Super Eagles opened their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign with a 2-1 victory over Tanzania on Tuesday in Morocco.

Semi Ajayi scored the opening goal of the match with a stunning header and was subsequently named man of the match.

Following the victory, he spoke to the press about the team’s performance, his personal contributions, and the upcoming challenges in the tournament.

On being named man of the match, the defender highlighted the importance of the team’s overall success.

He said, “The most important thing was getting a win, which we did. So it puts us on a good start for the group stage and we can take this momentum into the next game.”

Reflecting on the challenges faced during the match, he acknowledged areas for improvement.

“I think we just need to be better ourselves. I think we need to focus on ourselves. There are a lot of positives we can take from the game, but also a few things we need to work on. We'll be making sure we put that right for the next game,” he stated.

The defender also praised his teammate Calvin Bassey for his abilities, particularly when carrying the ball out of defense.

“Cal is a top player. We all know what he's capable of and we're looking forward to seeing more of it in this tournament,” he said.

On the absence of former leader Troost Ekong, he reflected on the impact while acknowledging the team’s strength in leadership.

“Troost Ekong is a massive leader. His presence will always be missed, but we’ve got a lot of leaders in that group that can fill the void,” he noted.

Speaking about tactical adjustments, he discussed playing alongside Bassey.

“It's a completely different formation. There are different spaces on the pitch that you need to cover and be aware of, but myself and Calvin are comfortable playing in either shape. Whatever the gaffer asks from us, we’re comfortable to do,” he explained.

The defender also reflected on the personal significance of scoring in the match, referencing a past missed penalty.

“The pain from that penalty is never going to go away. I’m probably going to feel that every day, but I have to channel that pain into something positive. Today it was about representing my nation as well as I could. Thankfully I was able to do that today and hopefully there’s more to come,” he said.

Finally, he spoke about the pride of representing Nigeria alongside fellow London-based teammates.

“It’s a blessing, but the chance to represent your country is the biggest blessing you can get. We’re all really proud and really happy to be pulling on a Super Eagles shirt, and we all just want to give our best for our country,” he remarked.

Wale Adejumo