One of Africa’s most enduring football rivalries takes centre stage again on Saturday when Nigeria’s Super Eagles lock horns with Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles in a top-of-the-table clash at the 35th Africa Cup of Nations. The highly anticipated Group encounter will be played at the 35,000-capacity Complexe Sportif de Fès in Morocco, with both sides eyeing an early ticket to the Round of 16.
Nigeria and Tunisia go into the fixture on the back of opening-game victories, setting up what promises to be a fiercely contested duel. Beyond the three points at stake, pride and history also loom large as coaches Eric Chelle and Sami Trabelsi, both former internationals seek to outwit each other and assert dominance in one of the continent’s classic match-ups.
Meetings between both nations span over six decades, with 21 previous encounters producing a perfectly balanced record, six wins apiece and nine draws, some of which were eventually decided by penalty shootouts. Nigeria emerged victorious in two of the three shootouts, notably in a 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifier and a pulsating AFCON quarter-final in Port Said in 2006. Tunisia, however, had the last laugh on penalties at the 2004 AFCON they hosted, edging the Super Eagles before going on to lift their only continental crown.
The rivalry has not been without controversy. Nigeria famously walked off the pitch during an AFCON qualifier in Tunis in 1961 after a disputed goal, while Tunisia did the same in 1978 during an AFCON bronze-medal match in Kumasi when Baba Otu Mohammed equalised for the Eagles.
Tunisia’s 1–0 victory over Nigeria in the Round of 16 at the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon marked their first competitive win against the Super Eagles since 1985, underlining how closely fought recent meetings have been. Saturday’s showdown is expected to deliver the same blend of tension, intensity and drama, as Nigeria aim to stamp their authority as title contenders and Tunisia, already qualified for the next FIFA World Cup, chase a second AFCON triumph.
Trabelsi, a member of Tunisia’s title-winning squad in 2004, boasts a strong cast including captain Ferjani Sassi, Ali Maâloul, Hannibal Mejbri and Dylan Bronn. Their attacking menace was on full display as they swept aside Uganda in Rabat in their opening game.
For Nigeria, confidence rests on a potent blend of firepower and solidity. Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze spearhead the attack, while Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi anchor the defence. Osimhen, still searching for his first goal of the tournament, will be eager to add to his impressive international tally of 31 goals in 47 appearances. In midfield, Alexander Iwobi poised for his 93rd cap and captain Wilfred Ndidi are expected to play pivotal roles in controlling the tempo and breaking up Tunisia’s rhythm.
With a rich history, balanced rivalry and high stakes, Fès is set to host another memorable chapter in the Nigeria,Tunisia football story.
