The Nigerian Super Eagles kicked off their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a hard-fought victory, defeating Tanzania 2-1 in their opening match on Tuesday, December 23. The win sparked nationwide celebrations that quickly spilled over from the pitch into the realm of celebrity banter.
Super Eagles Secure Crucial Opening Win
The match, played in Morocco, saw Nigeria take control early. Defender Semi Ajayi opened the scoring for the Super Eagles, putting the West African giants in the lead. The decisive goal came from forward Ademola Lookman, who found the back of the net to secure the three points for Nigeria.
Tanzania managed to pull one back through Charles M’Mombwa, who capitalized on a defensive lapse to score. Despite the consolation goal, the Super Eagles held on for a 2-1 victory, setting a positive tone for their tournament. Nigerian fans are now eagerly anticipating the team's next group stage clash against Tunisia.
Priscilla Ojo Caught in Friendly Crossfire
The post-match festivities took a humorous turn as Nigerians turned their attention to actress Iyabo Ojo's daughter, Priscilla Ojo, and her Tanzanian singer husband, Juma Jux. A wedding photo of the couple, who tied the knot earlier in the year, went viral following the match.
Popular blogger Tunde Ednut shared the image with the caption, "Priscilla, please console Juma for us." Priscilla, showing where her loyalties lay for the day, responded in a mix of Yoruba and English, writing "Pele baby mi @juma_jux" (Sorry, my baby).
Nigerians React with Humor and Banter
The online reaction to the couple's situation was swift and filled with typical Nigerian wit. Social media users flooded the posts with hilarious comments highlighting the friendly rivalry.
One user, folashadeomole_, commented: "I was asking my husband that who will Priscilla support now because she's literally Tanzanian by marriage and now I'm seeing this LMAO."
Another, davepo77, joked about the scoreline: "We allowed our in-law to score one goal so that he will keep taking care of our daughter for us."
The banter even extended to real-world encounters, as user mrkingbuddy shared: "In fact I didn’t know how much their wedding was so popular until earlier this month when I visited Zanzibar, Tanzania and when Tanzanians realized i was Nigerian, they started calling me their in-law..."
The light-hearted exchange underscores how football, especially during a tournament like AFCON, becomes a unifying cultural event in Nigeria, blending sport, family, and celebrity culture into a national conversation. The Super Eagles' next performance will undoubtedly generate more such moments of collective joy and friendly rivalry.
