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AFCON 2025: Tunisia End AFCON Opening Jinx As Senegal, Nigeria, DR Congo Impress [Today’s Fixtures]

Published December 24, 2025 at 7:21 AM

AFCON 2025: Tunisia End AFCON Opening Jinx As Senegal, Nigeria, DR Congo Impress [Today's Fixtures]

Tunisia finally shrugged off a long-standing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) opening-day curse on Tuesday night, with Elias Achouri’s brace powering the Carthage Eagles to a convincing 3-1 win over Uganda in Rabat.

The North Africans had not won their first match at the AFCON finals in 12 years, but that run came to an emphatic end in their Group C opener at the 2025 tournament.

Ellyes Skhiri set the tone early, rifling Tunisia in front after just 10 minutes. Achouri doubled the advantage before the break and returned to finish the job shortly after the hour mark, underlining Tunisia’s attacking intent. Uganda pulled one back deep into stoppage time through Denis Omedi, but the contest had long since slipped away.

Despite enjoying slightly more of the ball, Uganda struggled to match Tunisia’s cutting edge in the final third. 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.

In Fes, Nigeria were made to work harder than expected before edging Tanzania 2-1 in their own Group C clash. The Super Eagles dominated much of the first half, hitting the woodwork through Akor Adams and seeing Victor Osimhen denied dramatically.

The breakthrough arrived in the 36th minute when Semi Ajayi powered home Alex Iwobi’s inviting cross from a corner. Tanzania briefly silenced the Nigerian support early in the second half as Charles M’Mombwa swept home an equaliser, but the response was swift. Just 108 seconds later, Ademola Lookman restored Nigeria’s lead with a thunderous left-footed finish after another assist from Iwobi.

Tanzania threatened a second equaliser, yet Nigeria held firm thanks to crucial interventions from Calvin Bassey and a missed chance by Ibrahim Hamad. The win leaves the Super Eagles well placed ahead of a mouth-watering showdown with Tunisia.

Group D action saw Senegal prove their credentials with a routine 3-0 victory over Botswana at the Grand Stade de Tanger. Nicolas Jackson struck once in each half for the former champions, before substitute Cherif Ndiaye added a late third to seal the points.

Jackson was a constant menace, opening the scoring on the 40th minute after Ismail Jakobs’ cut-back, then doubling the lead just before the hour with a composed finish. The Bayern Munich striker went close to completing his hat-trick, while Botswana goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko produced a string of saves to keep the scoreline respectable.

Earlier in the group, DR Congo edged past Benin in a tense encounter 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 out the goal for offside. Both sides pressed for more, with Benin carving out several late openings, but they once again fell short of securing a regulation-time win at the finals. The result extended DR Congo’s impressive run on foreign soil to six consecutive victories.

Attention now turns to Wednesday’s fixtures, with Burkina Faso facing Equatorial Guinea, Algeria meeting Sudan, Ivory Coast taking on Mozambique, and Cameroon locking horns with Gabon as the group-stage drama continues to unfold.