Nigeria and Tunisia meet on Saturday evening with a place in the 2025 AFCON knockout stage firmly within reach. The Group C encounter at the Complexe Sportif de Fes pits two continental heavyweights against each other, each seeking to assert control of a group that also includes Tanzania and Uganda.
Nigeria edged Tanzania 2–1 in their opening fixture, while Tunisia produced a commanding 3–1 victory over Uganda to sit top of the standings on goal difference. With both sides knowing that a second straight win would all but secure progression, this clash carries significant weight, renewing a rivalry shaped by decades of competitive meetings across AFCON and World Cup qualification.
Match preview
Nigeria’s opener was characterised by dominance without complete efficiency, as Eric Chelle’s side dictated possession and tempo while needing to respond after briefly surrendering the lead. Semi Ajayi opened the scoring with his first AFCON goal before Ademola Lookman struck decisively after the interval to restore Nigeria’s advantage.
Ademola Lookman celebrating Super Eagles winner against Tanzania. Photo Credit
That victory marked Nigeria’s 14th opening-match win at AFCON finals and extended their unbeaten group-stage run to seven matches, a sequence that includes six wins. The Super Eagles have also won their last three AFCON group matches by a single-goal margin, underlining their ability to manage tight contests.
Nigeria’s group-stage consistency is further highlighted by the fact that they have lost just one of their last 15 AFCON group games, with that lone defeat coming against Madagascar in 2019. They have scored in each of their last seven group matches and in 13 of their last 14 AFCON outings overall.
Creatively, the Super Eagles were sharp against Tanzania, completing 451 of 501 passes and registering 11 shots on target. Victor Osimhen attempted seven efforts on goal, the most by a Nigerian in an AFCON match since 2010, while Alex Iwobi supplied two assists in his 19th AFCON appearance.
Stanley Nwabali Photo Credit: Justina Aniefiok
Tunisia, meanwhile, ended a four-match winless run at AFCON with a polished display against Uganda, striking early through Ellyes Skhiri before Elias Achouri netted twice to seal the points. The Carthage Eagles’ opener was their first opening-game win at the tournament since 2013.
Skhiri’s 10th-minute header was Tunisia’s 100th goal at AFCON finals, making them only the sixth nation to reach that milestone. The goal also reinforced Tunisia’s reputation as fast starters, with only Egypt and Nigeria having scored more AFCON goals inside the opening 10 minutes.
The win also ended Tunisia’s four-game drought in AFCON group-stage matches, and they now look to build momentum in a fixture they have historically approached with confidence. Tunisia are unbeaten in their second group match in each of their last five AFCON appearances and have lost just once in that slot across their last 11 tournaments.
Elias Achouri. Photo Credit: Imago
Historically, this rivalry has been finely balanced. The sides have met 21 times overall, with Tunisia holding a narrow edge in victories, while Nigeria lead the AFCON-only record with three wins from six meetings. Their most recent tournament encounter came in the 2021 Round of 16, where Tunisia claimed a 1–0 win.
Several of those meetings have gone the distance, including penalty shootouts in 2004 and 2006, underlining the fine margins that often define this fixture. With both sides in strong early form, another tightly contested encounter appears likely.
Team news
Nigeria emerged from their opening match without any fresh injury concerns, and Chelle is expected to maintain the core of the side that started against Tanzania. Continuity is likely given the team’s control and chance creation in that contest.
Ademola Lookman will again shoulder attacking responsibility after scoring the winner last time out, while Victor Osimhen is expected to lead the line despite failing to convert several chances in the opener.
Alex Iwobi remains central to Nigeria’s creative play, having recorded his first AFCON assists against Tanzania, while Wilfred Ndidi continues to anchor midfield, offering balance behind the attacking quartet.
Alex Iwobi put up a masterclass in midfield. Photo Credit: CAF
Tunisia also reported a clean bill of health following their win over Uganda, giving head coach Sami Trabelsi the luxury of selection consistency. A similar 4-3-3 system is expected, with Achouri again deployed in an advanced wide role.
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Ellyes Skhiri’s influence in midfield remains vital, particularly after opening his AFCON scoring account, while Hannibal Mejbri’s creativity could again be key after creating four chances in the opener.
Photo Credit: Imago
Defensively, Montassar Talbi impressed with his distribution, completing the most passes in Tunisia’s first match, and is set to retain his place at the heart of the back line.
Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations form
W
Nigeria form (all competitions)
W W W L L W
Tunisia Africa Cup of Nations form
W
Tunisia form (all competitions)
D L D W W W
Possible lineups
Nigeria: Nwabali; Sanusi, Bassey, Ajayi, Osayi-Samuel; Ndidi, Iwobi, Chukwueze, Lookman; Osimhen, Adams
Tunisia: Dahmen; Valery, Bronn, Talbi, Abdi; Sassi, Skhiri, Mejbri; Achouri, Mastouri, Saad
With both sides boasting strong defensive records and recent history pointing towards fine margins, this Group C encounter looks set to be closely fought.
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A draw would leave qualification firmly within reach for both teams, while maintaining the long-standing pattern of parity between these AFCON rivals.
Prediction: Nigeria 1-1 Tunisia
