AFCON 2025: Tunisia Brim with Confidence Ahead of Super Eagles Clash

Tunisia have expressed strong confidence ahead of their pivotal Group C encounter against Nigeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, following an impressive opening-day victory over Uganda.

The Carthage Eagles made a commanding start to their campaign on Tuesday with a 3–1 win at the Annexe Olympic Stadium of the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat. The performance underlined Tunisia’s title ambitions and placed them firmly among the early frontrunners in the group.

Midfielder Elyes Skhiri set the tone with an early strike in the 10th minute before Elias Achouri doubled Tunisia’s advantage just before the break. Achouri later completed his brace in the 64th minute to effectively put the contest beyond reach. Uganda managed a late consolation goal through Denis Omedi in stoppage time, but Tunisia’s dominance was never in doubt.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s showdown with Nigeria at the Complexe Sportif de Fès, midfielder Hannibal Mejbri said the opening victory has significantly boosted team morale.

“It was important for us to start with a win. Obviously, it gives us momentum going into the next games,” Hannibal said.

Tunisia currently sit joint-top of Group C with Nigeria on three points, edging ahead on goal difference. The highly anticipated clash between the two African heavyweights is expected to play a decisive role in determining the final group standings.

Head coach Sami Trabelsi also highlighted the positive atmosphere around the squad, praising the reception from Moroccan fans and the overall organisation of the tournament.

“The city has been very welcoming, and we are delighted with the support from Moroccan fans,” Trabelsi said. “We consider every match to be difficult and approach each opponent with the respect they deserve. Our objective is to improve with every game as we build momentum.”

The Tunisia boss further commended tournament organisers for maintaining high standards, particularly after difficult weather conditions during their opening fixture.

“Even though we played under heavy rain, the pitch remained in excellent, playable condition. The organisation has been very professional,” he added.

As anticipation builds, Tunisia will aim to carry their early momentum into what promises to be a fiercely contested encounter against the Super Eagles, with top spot in Group C at stake.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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