Two African football heavyweights, Nigeria and Tunisia, will lock horns on Thursday evening in a highly anticipated Group B opener at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
This clash marks the sixth meeting between these two nations at U-20 level in the competition’s history.
Nigeria holds the upper hand, having won three of the previous five encounters, including a dominant 4-0 victory in the 2023 third-place play-off. Tunisia has claimed just one victory, with the remaining match ending in a draw.
The match kicks off at 18:00 local time (15:00 GMT) at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, and both teams are set to deliver an exciting contest in this crucial first match of the group stage.
Nigeria Eyeing Strong Start to Title Bid
The Flying Eagles arrive in Cairo as the most decorated team in U-20 AFCON history, boasting seven titles and a consistent record of reaching the final nine times.
Nigeria is making their 19th appearance at the finals, and Thursday’s match will be their 98th in the tournament, edging them closer to a historic 100-match milestone.
Nigeria has been in fine form heading into this match, winning their last three international friendlies, including victories over Cote d’Ivoire and Egypt, giving them a huge confidence boost.
Coach Aliyu Zubairu has built a well-rounded squad, blending experienced players with exciting young talents, and they are determined to claim another title.
Flying Eagles Captain Daniel Bameyi. Photo Credit: Getty Images
The Flying Eagles have been dominant in group-stage matches, with only one loss in their last 11 games at this stage. However, their recent record in North Africa remains a concern—Nigeria has never won the U-20 AFCON when hosted in North Africa.
Tunisia’s Challenge and Resilience
Tunisia enters this match looking to break their winless streak against West African teams. The North African side has failed to win any of their last nine encounters against West African opposition (D6 L3).
They have qualified for three consecutive U-20 AFCON tournaments for the first time in over three decades, finishing fourth in both 2021 and 2023.
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Tunisia has shown resilience in past tournaments, advancing to the semi-finals despite a slow start and conceding at least three goals in each of their last three matches.
They’ll be hoping for a more solid defensive performance this time around and will look to coach Anis Boussaïdi’s tactical acumen to guide them to a strong opening result.
Match Details and Key Players
The match is scheduled to begin at 18:00 local time (15:00 GMT) at the 30 June Stadium, and fans across the continent can catch the action live on CAF’s official broadcast partners, including SuperSport and AfroSport TV. CAF TV on YouTube may also provide coverage in regions without broadcast access.
In goal, Nigeria’s Ebenezer Harcourt remains a key figure, while Daniel Bameyi will lead the defense, supported by Emmanuel Chukwu.
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Midfield stalwart Caleb Ochedikwu is expected to play a pivotal role, with Auwal Ibrahim and Suleyman Alabi providing further options for the Flying Eagles.
Up front, Bidemi Amole, Clinton Jephta, and Kparobo Arierhi will carry the attacking burden, aiming to continue Nigeria’s tradition of top scorers at the U-20 AFCON.
The rivalry between Nigeria and Tunisia stretches back to 1981, when Nigeria edged out Tunisia in a thrilling two-legged tie. Their most famous clash came in the 1985 final, when Nigeria triumphed 3-2 on aggregate after a tense two-legged affair.
