Nigeria started their bid for a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title on Tuesday night with a 2-1 victory over Tanzania at the Stade de Fez.
Semi Ajayi gave the 2023 Cup of Nations runners-up the lead after 18 minutes.
He rose the highest to power a header from Alex Iwobi's cross from the right wing past the Tanzania goalkeeper Zuberi Masudi.
The lead was no more than Eric Chelle's side deserved after dominating the opening exchanges.
Before the breakthrough, an Akor Adams header thumped the crossbar and Victor Osimhen uncharacteristically lashed two shots wildly off target.
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But within five minutes of the restart, Tanzania were level.
Novatus Miroshi laid on a pass for Charles M'Mombwa who slotted the ball past the Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
Parity, though, was fleeting. Iwobi, again the architect, set up Ademola Lookman who drove his shot into the top left hand corner of Masudi's goal.
Nigeria failed to exert more control as Tanzania, displaying more daring and guile, sensed a way back.
"When you see the level and the gap between the Nigerian team and Tanzania, you have to be cautious at the beginning," Tanzania boss Miguel Gamondi explained after the defeat.
"We gave away possession too easily and this was the problem in the first half. We didn't change directions enough. The plan was to do that in the second half," he added. "We did that and we created more."
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The bravado would have been rewarded but for some wayward marksmanship.
Substitute Kelvin John scuffed two chances to level before defender Ibrahim Hamad lashed the ball over the bar with only Nwabali to beat.
Nigeria coach Eric Chelle conceded his side had scraped through.
"The most important thing at the Cup of Nations is to improve with every game," said the 48-year-old, who led Mali to the quarter-finals at the last tournament in Cote d'Ivoire.
"We have to improve a lot of things defensively," Chelle added. "And of course we have move more when we don't have the ball and also when we have the ball.
"I congratulate my players for the win but we have a lot of work ahead of us."
Tunisia match
The fruits of that labour will be on display on Saturday when Nigeria take on Tunisia, who opened their 2025 Cup of Nations campaign on Tuesday night in Rabat with a 3-1 waltz past Uganda.
Ellyes Skhiri and Elias Achouri were on target in the first half and Achouri added the third mid way through the second half. Denis Omedi grabbed Uganda's consolation with a goal in stoppage time.
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In Group D, Nicolas Jackson bagged a brace as the 2022 champions Senegal romped past Botswana 3-0 at the Stade ibn-Batouta in Tangier. Jackson scored the game's opener in the 16th minute and doubled the advantage 13 minutes into the second half.
His replacement, Cherif Ndiaye, added the gloss in the closing stages.
In Group D's other match, Democratic Republic of Congo beat Benin 1-0. Théo Bongonda scored the only goal of game at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Côte d'Ivoire to defend title
On Wednesday, Côte d'Ivoire start the defence of their crown as the first round of games take place in Groups E and F.
The Ivorians play Mozambique in Marrakech and Cameroon face Gabon in Agadir in the Group F fixtures.
In Group E, Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea kick off the fourth day of action in Casablanca. That clash is followed by Algeria and Sudan in Rabat.
The top two teams from each of the six pools advance to the last-16 knockout stages along with the four best third-placed teams.
The final will take place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium – the same venue as the opening match – on 18 January.
