The draw for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) was held in Rabat, Morocco on Monday, with Nigeria’s Super Eagles placed in Group C with Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania.
In this piece, Sportingtimes.ng’s KOREDE JAMES recalls how Nigeria fared against their Group C opponents at previous AFCON meetings…
TUNISIA
Nigeria 2-0 Tunisia (AFCON 1978, third-place match)
Nigeria’s first meeting with Tunisia at the AFCON was at the third-place match in 1978 in Ghana.
The match was abandoned after Tunisia walked off in the 42nd minute with the score tied at 1-1 to protest the officiating.
Nigeria were awarded a 2-0 win, and Tunisia suspended for two years which led to them missing the 1980 tournament incidentally hosted by Nigeria.
Nigeria 4-2 Tunisia (AFCON 2000, Group Stage)
It took 22 years before the two teams met again in the AFCON, this time it was in the group stage of the 2000 edition co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria.
The Super Eagles triumphed 4-2 with Austin Okocha and Victor Ikpeba each bagging a brace.
The two teams qualified from the group, with the Super Eagles finishing as runners-up and Tunisia placing fourth.
Tunisia 1-1 Nigeria: Tunisia won on penalties (AFCON 2004 semi-finals)
The Carthage Eagles secured their first-ever win against the Super Eagles at the AFCON as hosts in 2004.
The teams met in the semi-finals, with Tunisia winning 5-3 on penalties after regulation time and extra-time ended 1-1.
Austin Okocha gave the Super Eagles the lead on 67 minutes from the penalty spot before Khaled Badra equalised also from the penalty spot with eight minutes left
Nigeria 1-1 Tunisia : Nigeria won on penalties (AFCON 2006, quarter-finals)
Both teams met in the quarter-finals of the 2006 AFCON hosted by Egypt.
Just like the 2004 edition, the match was decided via a penalty shootout and the Super Eagles this time emerged winners.
Obinna Nsofor opened the scoring in the sixth minute but Karim Haggui equalised for Tunisia on 49 minutes.
The match went to penalties after the it ended 1-1, with the Super Eagles triumphing 6-5.
Nigeria 1-0 Tunisia (AFCON 2019, third-place match)
For the second time at the AFCON, Nigeria and Tunisia met in the third-place playoffs and once again the West African nation won.
After losing to eventual winners Algeria in the semi-finals, the Super Eagles ended the tournament on a high after defeating Tunisia 1-0 in the third-place match.
Odion Ighalo’s third minute goal secured a 1-0 win for the Super Eagles and took his tally in the tournament to five, which earned him the Golden Boot award.
Tunisia 1-0 Nigeria (AFCON 2021, round of 16)
The Super Eagles went into their AFCON 2021 round of 16 clash with Tunisia as favourites but suffered a 1-0 defeat.
Youssef Msakni’s 47th minute long-range strike was enough to send Tunisia into the quarter-finals.
The Super Eagles had a player sent off after Alex Iwobi was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle.
UGANDA
Uganda 2-1 Nigeria (AFCON 1978, semi-finals)
The first and only time the Super Eagles and Uganda have clashed at the AFCON was in the semi-finals of the 1978 tournament in Ghana.
The Ugandans won 2-1 thanks to goals from Abdulla Nasur and Phillip Omondi. Martin Eyo scored for Nigeria.
Uganda, however, lost to Ghana 2-0 in the final while Nigeria defeated Tunisia 2-0 in the third-place match.
TANZANIA
Nigeria 3-1 Tanzania (AFCON 1980, group stage)
The only meeting Nigeria had with Tanzania at the AFCON was in the group stage of the 1980 edition.
It was Tanzania’s debut at the tournament which saw them crash out in the group stage.
It was hosts Nigeria’s first game at the tournament and they won 3-1 thanks to goals from the late Muda Lawal, Ifeanyi Onyedika and Segun Odegbami.
Led by Christian Chukwu, Nigeria went on to become African champions for the first after defeating Algeria 3-0 in the final.
