The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has sparked a debate among Nigerian supporters following its Man of the Match selection in the Super Eagles' opening game of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Ajayi Awarded Despite Fan Dissent
Defender Semi Ajayi was named Man of the Match after Nigeria's 2-1 victory over Tanzania's Taifa Stars on Tuesday night, December 23, 2025, in Morocco. The Hull City centre-back opened the scoring in the 36th minute, connecting with a cross from Alex Iwobi to give Nigeria the lead in their quest for a fourth AFCON title.
This moment was significant for Ajayi, who was previously under scrutiny for missing a crucial penalty in the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff final against DR Congo last November. The victory over Tanzania marked a positive shift in focus for the team after failing to qualify for the World Cup.
Match Details and Turning Points
The Super Eagles' lead was short-lived. Five minutes into the second half, Tanzania's Charles M'Mombwa volleyed an equalizer following a dangerous cross from Nobatus Miroshi. However, Nigeria restored their advantage just seven minutes later through Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman.
Tanzania had a late chance to level the score with three minutes of regular time remaining. A cross from Mohamed Hussein evaded goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, but substitute Kelvin John failed to make contact, sealing the 2-1 win for the three-time African champions.
Social Media Erupts Over MOTM Decision
Despite Ajayi's crucial goal, a large section of the Nigerian football community expressed strong disagreement with CAF's choice for the top individual honour. The consensus on social media platform X was that Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi was the more deserving candidate.
Fans pointed to Iwobi's two assists and his overall control and stabilization of the team's midfield as reasons he should have won the award. Some supporters even suggested that the decision was influenced by a desire to downplay Iwobi's rising profile.
Here is a summary of the fan reactions on X:
- @chrisoguguoo: Questioned if officials watched the same match, listing Wilfred Ndidi, Samuel Chukwueze, and Calvin Bassey as having better games than Ajayi.
- @AgentZee10 & @dami_mastermind: Both conceded Ajayi had a great game but firmly believed Iwobi or Bassey deserved the award.
- @PretteePee: Alleged that CAF did not want to bolster Iwobi's credentials as a potential future African Player of the Year contender.
- @Firemankingsley: Offered a balanced view, supporting the award as a confidence boost for Ajayi but acknowledging Iwobi's deserving performance.
In a related show of support, Premier League club Fulham FC sent a goodwill message to their players—Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze—ahead of Nigeria's AFCON opener against Tanzania. The club wished the Super Eagles trio the best of luck in the tournament.
