Captain Ndidi, Ajayi  want improvement  despite  ‘spirited’ winning start

Captain Wilfred Ndidi has praised Super Eagles’ resilience following a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Tanzania in their opening match  at 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, while acknowledging there is still room for improvement.

Speaking after the match, Ndidi stressed the importance of starting the tournament on a winning note.

“The first game is always about momentum,” Ndidi said. “It was really good that we got the three points, which is the most important thing.”

The Besiktas midfielder admitted the team struggled with fatigue in the second half but praised the squad’s reaction and composure under pressure.

“There’s always space for improvement. The first half was good, the pace was good. In the second half we were a bit tired, but we reacted very well,” he added.

Despite Nigeria conceding again, Ndidi downplayed concerns over defensive issues, expressing confidence in the players and coaching crew to address shortcomings as the tournament progresses.

Similarly, defender Semi Ajayi has admitted that  the Super Eagles still have areas to improve despite their winning start  against Tanzania.

Ajayi  who was named Man of the Match, emphasized the need for improvement as the tournament progresses.

“There are a few things we would iron out and improve, but there are also a lot of positives to take,” he said. “We need to do better at seeing out games and killing teams off.”

The defender also stressed the importance of goals coming from all areas of the pitch, noting that success cannot rely solely on attackers.

Nigeria now turn attention to a crucial Group C encounter against Tunisia, while Tanzania prepare to face Uganda in their next match.