AFCON 2025: Dele-Bashiru Admits Defensive Lapse in Super Eagles’ Win Over Tanzania

Super Eagles midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru has opened up on the key mistake Nigeria made during their 2–1 victory over Tanzania at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday.

The Lazio midfielder came off the bench in the Group C encounter at the Fez Stadium in Morocco as Nigeria secured a winning start to their AFCON campaign. Goals from Semi Ajayi and Ademola Lookman sealed the win, while Charles M’Mombwa scored Tanzania’s lone goal.

Despite the positive result, Dele-Bashiru admitted that a momentary loss of concentration at the back allowed the Taifa Stars back into the game.

“We played well against Tanzania,” Dele-Bashiru said in his post-match interview. “For the goal we conceded, it was a lapse of concentration, but we created a lot of chances today.

“I think in another game we finish those chances, and the game would have been dead earlier on.

“We will analyze what we didn’t do well, and then from there we will analyze Tunisia.”

Nigeria now turns its attention to a tougher test against Tunisia in their next group match.

Opinion: Honest Self-Assessment at the Right Time

Dele-Bashiru’s assessment reflects a growing maturity within the Super Eagles camp. Winning tournament matches while still acknowledging flaws is often the mark of teams that intend to go far.

The defensive lapse against Tanzania may have made the scoreline tighter than necessary, but the ability to create numerous chances is a positive sign. What matters now is whether Nigeria can translate that dominance into control—both defensively and offensively—against stronger opposition.

With Tunisia looming, concentration will be non-negotiable. Yet, the Super Eagles’ willingness to analyze, adjust, and improve suggests a squad that is learning quickly. If those lessons are applied effectively, Nigeria won’t just be chasing results—they’ll be shaping their own momentum in the tournament.

For fans, it’s reassuring to see a team that wins, reflects, and still believes there is more to give.