Tolu Arokodare was the hero as Nigeria boosted their hopes of reaching the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) with a 3-1 home win over tournament co-hosts Tanzania.
With the East Africans already assured of a spot at the finals, the Super Eagles are battling for the one qualification spot available in Group L and have little margin for error after losing 3-0 in Guinea-Bissau in September.
Alhassan Yusuf kept his composure to slot Nigeria into a second-minute lead in Uyo from Ademola Lookman’s pass, but the visitors equalised through Alphonce Msanga just after the half-hour mark.
Arokodare climbed off the bench at half-time and cleverly flicked home Wilfred Ndidi’s low ball to restore the lead for the West Africans in the 52nd minute.
And the Ajax striker, who is on a season-long loan from Wolves, gave the Super Eagles breathing space eight minutes later when he controlled Moses Usor’s cross from the left and smashed in from 12 yards out.
With three games played in the group, Eric Chelle’s side are now one point behind leaders Guinea-Bissau, who drew 1-1 with Madagascar on Thursday.
Elsewhere, Mohamed Salah scored twice late on against Malawi as Egypt cruised to a 5-0 victory in Ali Maher’s first match in charge.
Achraf Hakimi netted two stunning goals and Yassine Bounou saved a penalty to help Morocco continue their unbeaten start with a 5-1 win over Niger.
Meanwhile, Tunisia are in danger of missing out on the finals for the first time since 1992 after suffering a 2-0 defeat at home against Libya, and Kenya scored a last-minute equaliser to end South Africa’s perfect start.
The third round of qualifying culminates with three games on Saturday, while the fourth round of fixtures are split across Monday and Tuesday.
Salah and Hakimi shine
The most recent of Egypt’s record seven Afcon titles came in 2010, and Mohamed Salah (right) has finished as a runner-up twice with the Pharaohs since thenEgypt reached the semi-finals of Afcon 2025 and the last 16 of this year’s Fifa World Cup under Hossam Hassan but parted company with the 60-year-old earlier this month.
The Pharaohs had taken four points from their opening two games in Group B, with Salah substituted after an hour in their 0-0 draw with Angola before missing the win in South Sudan.
The former Liverpool forward returned as captain against Malawi, and Egypt cruised into a 3-0 lead at the break through goals from Nasser Maher, Omar Marmoush and Mohamed Hany.
Salah got on the scoresheet when he stooped to head in a cross from the left and rounded off proceedings by dinking in a penalty after Hamza Abdelkarim was tripped in the box.
Victory in Maher’s first game at the helm puts Egypt three points clear of Angola, who take on South Sudan on Saturday.
In Group A, Morocco had also looked like they would ease to three points against Niger in Casablanca after Yassir Zabiri’s early effort and a brilliant long-range strike from right-back Hakimi put them 2-0 up after 27 minutes.
But Mohamed Abdourahmane headed in to halve the deficit and Niger had a chance to level from the spot on the stroke of half-time after a handball by Noussair Mazraoui.
However, Atlas Lions goalkeeper Bounou moved to his left to keep out Youssouf Oumarou’s penalty, and Hakimi made it 3-1 in first-half stoppage time with a dipping free-kick from distance.
Youssef En-Nesyri steered in the fourth in the 77th minute from a Hakimi pass and Ayoub Oufkir completed the scoring from close range in the final minute.
Earlier in Group A on Friday Gabon beat Lesotho to move on to six points thanks to two second-half goals from Denis Bouanga.
The LA FC forward smashed the right-hand upright with a penalty but broke the deadlock with a header a minute later and then scored from 12 yards when the Panthers were awarded a second spot kick.
Tunisia downed as McCarthy frustrates Bafana
Former South Africa international Benni McCarthy denied Bafana Bafana victory as his Kenya side grabbed a late equaliserTunisia have appeared at a record 17 consecutive Afcons but are winless and bottom of Group H – another section with just one qualifying place on offer – after defeat by their North African neighbours Libya.
The Carthage Eagles could complain about refereeing decisions going against them in Sfax, with Ali Maaloul penalised for a shirt pull on Muad Eisay just before half-time and Ali Youssef converting the resulting spot-kick.
Tunisia had a goal ruled out following a marginal offside call in the second half and three minutes later a low shot from Hamdou El Houni made it 2-0 to the Mediterranean Knights.
Libya, who last played at an Afcon in 2012, climb to second in the table and go level on points with Uganda.
South Africa are a point clear of Guinea at the top of Group D after a 2-2 draw against Benni McCarthy’s Kenya in Johannesburg.
Amos Wanjala’s own goal gifted the hosts an early lead before Michael Olunga levelled from the penalty spot just before half-time.
Relebohile Mofokeng restored Bafana Bafana’s advantage with 13 minutes remaining, but Kenya claimed a point when Ryan Ogam’s low shot from 20 yards crept inside the left-hand upright in the 90th minute.
Elsewhere, Burkina Faso joined Benin on seven points at the top of Group F thanks to Elohim Kabore’s 94th-minute winner against Mauritania in Ouagadougou and Cape Verde registered their first points in Group K with a 4-2 victory over Liberia in Praia.
Friday’s Afcon 2027 qualifying results and fixtures
Comoros 0-0 Congo-Brazzaville (Group G)
Zambia 1-1 Burundi (Group I)
Mozambique 0-1 Ethiopia (Group J)
Cape Verde 4-2 Liberia (Group K)
Gabon 2-0 Lesotho (Group A)
South Africa 2-2 Kenya (Group D)
Burkina Faso 1-0 Mauritania (Group F)
Tunisia 0-2 Libya (Group H)
Nigeria 3-1 Tanzania (Group L)
Egypt 5-0 Malawi (Group B)
Mali 3-2 Rwanda (Group K)
Morocco 5-1 Niger (Group A)
