Sports

AFCON 2025: Nigeria, Tunisia set for group C showdown in Fès Saturday

Published

2 weeks ago

December 26, 2025

The ancient city of Fès in Morocco will provide the backdrop for another gripping chapter in African football history on December 27, 2025, as Nigeria’s Super Eagles face Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles in a crucial Group C encounter at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Both teams approach the fixture in a confident mood, having secured three points from their opening matches. Nigeria recorded a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Tanzania, while Tunisia impressed with a commanding 3–1 win against Uganda. With qualification to the Round of 16 already within sight, the match is widely viewed as a battle for early supremacy in the group.

The Nigeria-Tunisia rivalry stretches back 64 years and is rich in drama and controversy, featuring pitch walkouts, intense physical battles, and decisive penalty shootouts. Tunisia’s 1–0 victory over Nigeria in the Round of 16 at the 2022 AFCON remains a recent reminder of how finely balanced this fixture has become.

On the sidelines, coaches Eric Chelle and Sami Trabelsi, both former internationals, will be determined to outmanoeuvre each other. Their tactical decisions could prove decisive in a contest expected to be played at high tempo and intensity.

Nigeria will look to their attacking firepower for inspiration, with Victor Osimhen eager to open his tournament goal account.

Ademola Lookman, buoyed by his spectacular strike against Tanzania, and Samuel Chukwueze are expected to provide pace and creativity from wide areas. Captain Wilfred Ndidi will be central to Nigeria’s midfield stability, supported by Alex Iwobi’s playmaking ability, while Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi are likely to anchor the defence.

Tunisia, champions in 2004 and already qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, will rely on their blend of experience and flair. Captain Ferjani Sassi is expected to dictate proceedings in midfield, with Hannibal Mejbri adding energy and creativity. Elias Achouri, who scored twice against Uganda, will be one of Tunisia’s main attacking threats, while Ali Maâloul and Dylan Bronn provide defensive assurance.

With history, quality, and tournament stakes converging under the lights in Fès, the Group C clash promises to be an intense and absorbing contest that could shape the path of both teams at AFCON 2025.

Head-to-head overview of Tunisia vs Nigeria in senior men’s football:

*Overall Record (All Competitions)*

Total matches: 21

Tunisia wins: 7

Nigeria wins: 6

Draws: 8

Goals for Tunisia: 26

Goals for Nigeria: 21

* Recent Competitive Results (AFCON)*

Nigeria and Tunisia have met 6 times before AFCON 2025.

Nigeria wins: 3

Tunisia wins: 1

Draws: 2

Nigeria goals: 9

Tunisia goals: 5

Notable Meetings

1978 AFCON (Third Place): Nigeria won (Tunisia walked off)

2000 AFCON (Group Stage): Nigeria 4–2 Tunisia

2004 AFCON Semi-finals: 1–1, Tunisia win on penalties

2006 AFCON Quarter-finals: 1–1, Nigeria win on penalties

2019 AFCON (Third Place): Nigeria 1–0 Tunisia

2022 AFCON Round of 16: Tunisia 1–0 Nigeria

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Sports

Finance ministry confirms release of Super Eagles’ bonuses for AFCON

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Federal Government has said all group-stage bonuses due to Super Eagles players at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations have been released and are expected to reflect in the players’ domiciliary accounts within hours.

The Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, disclosed this on Thursday while responding to reports that the national team was considering boycotting training sessions and could decline to travel to Marrakesh for their quarter-final clash against Algeria.

In a post on her official X handle, Uzoka-Anite said the concerns over unpaid bonuses had been resolved through coordinated action by the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“The Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria have successfully streamlined to ensure faster, more predictable disbursements aligned with international best practice,” she said.

She explained that all bonuses earned by the players during the group stage of the tournament had been fully processed and cleared through the required regulatory procedures.

“All group-stage bonuses were fully released and have now cleared the necessary regulatory stages,” the minister stated.

Uzoka-Anite added that a fast-track process was introduced to meet the players’ preferences for payment in foreign currency. “We have implemented a fast-track conversion process to move funds into foreign currency, honouring the players’ preferences,” she said.

According to her, the final stage of the payment process is already underway, with transfers to the players’ domiciliary accounts currently in progress. “The final transfers to domiciliary accounts are currently in flight. Players can expect these funds to reflect starting today (Thursday) or tomorrow (Friday),” she added.

The minister stressed that the government remains focused on the welfare and morale of the team as they advance into the knockout phase of the competition. “Our focus remains entirely on supporting the team’s welfare so they can maintain their incredible momentum in the knockout rounds,” she said.

Uzoka-Anite also assured that the administration was committed to ensuring that off-field issues do not distract the players from their performance at the tournament. “We move forward with one goal: Bringing the trophy home!” she said.

The update is expected to ease concerns around the team’s preparations ahead of their quarter-final fixture as the Super Eagles continue their campaign at AFCON 2025.

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Sports

Morocco to host draw for 2026 CAF Futsal AFCON Qualifiers

Published

4 days ago

January 7, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the draw for the 2026 CAF Futsal Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers will take place today in Rabat, Morocco.

The qualification process will be played over two home-and-away knockout rounds, with seven teams set to qualify for the 2026 CAF Futsal AFCON final tournament, where they will join host nation Morocco.

A total of 17 countries will compete for places at the continental tournament. They are Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Libya, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The final tournament will also serve as Africa’s qualifying competition for the 2026 FIFA Futsal World Cup.

Morocco have hosted and won the last two editions of the men’s Futsal AFCON. They lifted the trophy in Laayoune in 2020 with a dominant 5–0 victory over Egypt in the final, before successfully defending the title in Rabat in 2024 after a 5–1 win against Angola.

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Sports

AFCON 2025: Super Eagles must maintain winning formula against Algeria — Adepoju

Published

4 days ago

January 7, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Former Nigerian international, Mutiu Adepoju has urged the Super Eagles to maintain their winning formula as they prepare to face Algeria in Saturday’s quarter-final clash at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria, three-time AFCON champions, secured a convincing 4–0 victory over Mozambique in the round of 16, while Algeria needed extra time to edge past DR Congo to book their place in the quarter-finals.

Speaking with Footy Africa, the 1994 AFCON winner praised the Super Eagles’ dominant display against Mozambique but warned that Algeria would present a much tougher challenge.

“It was a very good win and I would say it was a statement victory,” Adepoju said. “They played very well and got the goals, which is what has been expected throughout this tournament.

“We have been improving game by game, and I hope that improvement continues in the quarter-finals. The performance was tremendous, the play was good, and it was total dominance over the Mozambicans. It was a very good win.

“Hopefully, we can replicate the same performance against Algeria, who will be another difficult side.”

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