Tanzania head coach Miguel Gamondi has admitted that Nigeria’s superior individual quality, particularly the impact of Tolu Arokodare, proved decisive in the Taifa Stars’ 3-1 defeat to the Super Eagles in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo.

Nigeria and Tanzania went into the half-time break level at 1-1 after Alhassan Yusuf gave the hosts an early lead before Alphonce Mabula Msanga equalised for the visitors.

Éric Chelle’s second-half changes, however, transformed the contest, with Arokodare coming off the bench to score twice and fire Nigeria to victory.

The Ajax forward restored Nigeria’s lead in the 52nd minute with a backheel finish from Wilfred Ndidi’s delivery before completing his brace eight minutes later following a cross from substitute Moses Usor.  

Gamondi acknowledged that his team competed well in the first half but struggled to cope with Nigeria’s attacking quality after the interval.

“In the second half, we can see the difference, the quality of the players, the players coming from the bench in Nigeria,” Gamondi said.

“There are big, big, big strikers, big players, even physically and the quality and this was the difference.”

The Tanzanian coach said Nigeria’s ability to bring high-quality players from the bench created a problem his side could not overcome.

He also praised his players for their response after conceding inside the opening two minutes, saying they showed character to recover and equalise.

“I think we started in the worst scenario. We conceded one goal in the first minutes of the game against Nigeria,” Gamondi said.

“It should be a killer situation but my boys showed a big character to keep their minds on the pitch and keep believing and we equalized.”  

Gamondi conceded that Nigeria deserved the victory but maintained that Tanzania also created opportunities during the match.

“Nigeria deserves to win the game but I am very proud of my players,” he said.

The coach also pointed to the difference in experience between the two squads, noting that many of his players compete in domestic or lower-level leagues, while Nigeria have several players operating at a higher level of club football.  

The result moved Nigeria to six points from three Group L matches, one point behind leaders Guinea-Bissau, who drew 1-1 with Madagascar.

Tanzania, who have already qualified automatically for the 2027 AFCON as one of the tournament’s co-hosts, will host Nigeria in the return fixture at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar on Tuesday, November 17.

The Super Eagles will travel with renewed confidence after Arokodare’s match-winning contribution helped them recover from their 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in their previous qualifier.