Tolu Arokodare changed a level game into a 3–1 Nigeria victory over Tanzania in Uyo on Friday, 13 November 2026, scoring twice early in the second half of their third 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. The Nigerian federation’s report published on Friday evening confirms that he entered at the interval before striking twice in eight minutes.
The decisive contribution came from the bench
Alhassan Yusuf gave Nigeria a second-minute lead, but Alphonce Msanga equalised in the 32nd minute in the recorded scoring sequence. The opening goal therefore did not produce a half-time advantage for the home side.
The federation describes Arokodare’s 52nd-minute finish as a back-flick from a Wilfred Ndidi pass. His second followed in the 60th minute after a delivery from another substitute, Moses Usor, on the left. Nigeria’s renewed lead thus came through an immediate contribution from the replacements rather than a late attempt to rescue the result.
The leaders are one point away
Nigeria now have six points from three games, one behind Guinea-Bissau, who drew 1–1 with Madagascar in this round. The Group L standings put Madagascar on two points and Tanzania on one. Nigeria’s three goals also brought their overall goal difference back to zero after the previous three-goal defeat by Guinea-Bissau.
Second position is not automatically enough in this group. Tanzania qualify as a tournament co-host, while the highest-ranked of the other teams earns the additional place under CAF’s published format. Closing the gap to Guinea-Bissau therefore matters more than simply moving clear of the lower two sides.
The return against Tanzania is scheduled for Tuesday, 17 November, before the final two rounds in March. Nigeria have restored their pursuit of the available qualifying place; the Uyo win does not settle it.
For the qualification rule involving a host nation, see our Nigeria–Tanzania preview. The match details and AFCON qualifying standings provide the linked sporting context.
Tolu Arokodare arriving with Ajax for the Telstar match on 30 August 2026; archival, not from the Tanzania fixture. Image credit: Mtjonenfa — Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 4.0.
