Nigeria and Tanzania Level 1-1 at Half as Lookman Is Carried Off Hurt
Nigeria and Tanzania were level at 1-1 around the 45th minute of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo on November 13, 2026. Alhassan Yusuf scored early, Mabula Msanga replied, and Ademola Lookman was taken off hurt.
Nigeria and Tanzania were level at 1-1 around the 45th minute of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, November 13, 2026. Ademola Lookman was taken off injured late in the first half.
The match is the third round of qualifying for the 2027 tournament. Kickoff was set for 11am ET.
Early goal, quick reply
Nigeria struck in the second minute. Alhassan Yusuf scored after Lookman set him up.
The hosts then controlled much of the opening spell. At the 10-minute mark, Akor Adams was giving Tanzania's Taifa Stars little room, and Nigeria still held the ball at 15 minutes without finding a second goal.
Tanzania got back level through Mabula Msanga. He dribbled past Nigeria defender Calvin Bassey and another defender before finishing.
Yusuf was shown a yellow card in the 12th minute for a tackle on a Tanzania player. Nigeria captain Wilfred Ndidi fired wide in the 40th minute.
Lookman hurt before the break
Lookman went down needing treatment during a Nigeria corner in the 43rd minute. By the 45th minute he had been carried off the field because of the injury.
Alex Iwobi's corner then found Nigeria players, but nothing came of it and the ball ended in the Tanzania goalkeeper's hands. Seconds later Nigeria nearly scored again, but Fredricks sent the ball over the bar.
Nigeria named Nwabali in goal, with Fredricks, Bassey and Aina in defense. Ndidi, Bwene, Iwobi and Alhassan lined up in midfield, Lookman played behind Adams and Nnadi. Tanzania started Manula in goal.
What was at stake
Nigeria arrived after losing their previous match in a surprising way and were looking to return to winning form under coach Eric Chelle. Tanzania had taken only one point from their first two qualifying games.
Nigeria are ranked 30th in the world and Tanzania 115th, according to a pre-match betting preview. The same preview noted that Nigeria have not lost to Tanzania in their last six meetings, dating back to 1980, and won the most recent one in December last year.
The preview said Nigeria were close to either qualifying for the 2027 tournament or missing out. Chelle's side also had several players absent through injury and rehabilitation, it said.
The final score was not available at the time of writing.
