Alex Iwobi provided Nigeria with the attacking thrust from central midfield needed to unlock a deep-lying Tanzanian side. Operating as one of the two box-to-box midfielders alongside Fulham team-mate Samuel Chukwueze in a 4-4-2 diamond, Iwobi drifted intelligently into pockets of space across the pitch.

The Africa Cup of Nations paused for Christmas on Thursday, but it is a brief 24-hour break with two more rounds of group competition to be crammed into the next week.

Tanzania will make their fourth appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) when they appear at the 2025 edition, set to kick off in Morocco on December 21st.

When does the 2025 African Cup Of Nations take place? The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is scheduled to take place from December, 21,

Record winners Egypt, led by Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, face South Africa in the first titanic battle of the tournament.

Their most recent attempt in 2023 was ended at the quarter-final stage. They eased through the round of 16 with a 3-0 defeat of Namibia, but were edged out by Nigeria at the second time of asking, losing 1-0. Ademola Lookman was the goalscorer.

South Africa's coach Hugo Broos emphasises a team-focused approach, downplaying special plans for Egypt's Salah and Marmoush.

Bafana Bafana are underdogs for Friday's Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group B clash with Egypt in Agadir, but the memory of their 2019 round of 16 upset of the Pharaohs is still fresh in their memory.

Both Egypt and South Africa are going head-to-head on Friday in Agadir live on beIN SPORTS, in arguably the biggest match-up of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations so far.