AFCON 2025: ‘We are actually training for that’ - Super Eagles captain reveals team plan for Tunisia

Nigeria secured a 2-1 victory to kick off their tournament campaign. The Super Eagles took a first-half lead when Semi Ajayi connected with an Alex Iwobi delivery to head the ball home.

However, a defensive error allowed Charles M'Mombwa to equalise for Tanzania shortly after the break.

The parity was short-lived, as Ademola Lookman restored Nigeria's advantage just two minutes later, scoring what would become the winning goal.

Ndidi, leading the team as captain in a major tournament for the first time, stressed that the game was not as tough as it may have seemed to observers.

"It is an amazing experience leading the team. It’s a task which I needed to step up to, so it has been good so far," Ndidi told Proudly Austin. 

"It was a good win, which is the most important thing. The first game of a tournament is always like this, about getting the momentum, but there's always room for improvement."

He added, "The most important thing is that we got the three points. We’ll go back, watch the game, see the things we need to improve on and then look forward to the next one."

Ndidi insisted that while every match presents its own challenges, Nigeria was largely in control. "It was not a difficult match. 

“The first half was good. In the second half we stayed back a bit, which made it look difficult, but every game is difficult. It's just about what we can do, hurt the opponents, this is why we are Nigerians."

With the team's attention now turning to their next fixture against Tunisia, the captain emphasised the need for the squad to build on their opening performance.

"Of course, 100 per cent," Ndidi said when asked about improving for the next game. "For now, I can’t say anything. We are actually training for that. As I said before, we have to learn from the Tanzania game before going into the Tunisia game."

A victory over Tunisia at the Fez Stadium on Saturday night would guarantee Nigeria's qualification for the round of sixteen in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.