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Nigeria Vs Tunisia Battle of Two Eagles – THISDAYLIVE
The Super Eagles will be hoping to build on their 2-1 victory against Tanzania in their first Group C game of the African Cup of Nations on Tuesday, as they file out against the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia today at the 35,000-capacity Complexe Sportif de Fès for their second group encounter in what has been dubbed the battle of the Eagles. Both sides will be going for glory so as to be in good stead of topping the group after recording victories in their opening games
three-time winners, Nigeria, will be aiming to end a miserable 2025 on a high by winning their fourth Africa Cup of Nations crown in Morocco.
The Super Eagles endured penalty heartbreak last month, losing to DR Congo in the World Cup playoffs and missing out on consecutive tournaments for the first time since 1990.
However, the West African giants thrive on the continent’s biggest stage, reaching at least the semi-finals in seven of their last 10 editions, being runners-up in 2023 and they are currently the fifth favourites for the title this winter.
Nigeria started on a winning note on Tuesday, beating the Taifa Stars of Tanzania 2-1, with goals from Semi Ajayi and Ademola Lookman to place them second of Group C behind Tunisia who defeated Uganda 3-1 in their opening game.
Though the Super Eagles were unimpressive in the first half and were heavily criticised for being wasteful in front of goal, but midfielder, Chidera Ejuke says winning was what matters at this stage of the competition.
Asked how he felt after the win over Tanzania, Ejuke said: “Good. It is important that we got the victory so we are happy.”
Ejuke has played down criticism of Nigeria’s performance, with some fans and pundits suggesting that they were not at their best, particularly in the second half against their East African opponents.
“The most important thing is to win and we conceded one. Obviously, the coach is going to tell us what to do and how to get better with that, but it’s just important that we win.
“We have good morale in the team already, so we are just going to take it one game at a time.”
Meanwhile, former Super Eagles striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni has predicted a “tough” game when Nigeria face Tunisia today.
After Nigeria’s win over Tanzania, Aiyegbeni told reporters in Morocco, “We were lucky today against Tanzania.
“When you look at Tanzania, they had chances to kill the game and we were lucky to get away with it, and against Tunisia it’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be a tough one.”
Tunisia are AFCON regulars, having qualified for the last 17 finals, last missing out in 1992.
Sami Trabelsi’s side, like many of the continent’s juggernauts, crashed out in the group stage in 2024 without a win in Group E.
However, the North Africans have enjoyed a prosperous 2025, breezing through World Cup qualification unbeaten while also drawing to Brazil in November.
They have started their first group game on a strong foot, beating the Cranes of Uganda 3-1 and would be hoping to consolidate the victory with another win against the Super Eagles.
A name known to English football fans, Hannibal Mejbri, will be the engine for the North Africans this winter.
Morocco is his second AFCON after making his tournament debut in the Ivory Coast last year.
The Burnley midfielder scored his first goal for his country in October and will be aiming to guide his nation into the latter stages of this tournament.
Though his name was not on the score sheet against Uganda, Nigeria may just be wary of him today.
There have been a total of 21 matches between both teams, dating back 64 years, with each having won six times, and the remaining nine matches drawn (though some eventually went into penalty shootouts). Of the three that stretched to penalty shootouts, Nigeria won two, including a memorable 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture and an Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final duel that flowed back and forth in the Egyptian city of Port Said 19 years ago.
Tunisia won the lottery in the 2004 AFCON that they hosted, edging the Eagles to set up a Final clash with Morocco’s Atlas Lions.
Both teams have staged walkouts against each other, with Nigeria leaving the pitch in an AFCON qualifying match in Tunis in December 1961, after a controversial goal, and Tunisia opting to do the same when Nigeria scored an equalizing goal through Baba Otu Mohammed in an AFCON bronze-medal match in Kumasi in March 1978.
When the Carthage Eagles pipped the Super Eagles 1-0 in the Round of 16 at the AFCON in Cameroon four years ago, it was their first victory over Nigeria in a competitive match since 1985, when they won a 1986 World Cup qualifying match 2-0 in Tunis.
There have been high drama, muscle-flexing, and boardroom blowouts, an today’s encounter will be another game of intensity and power-play as Nigeria seek to establish themselves as one of the favourites for the trophy and Tunisia, who will be going to next year’s FIFA World Cup finals, determined to fight for a second continental title.
Trabelsi, who was in the squad that Khaled Badra led to win Tunisia’s only AFCON title, at home in 2004, has the likes of Captain Ferjani Sassi, Ali Maãloul, Hannibal Mejbri, Dylan Bronn, Ben Ali, Ali Ben Romdhane and Yan Valery who can turn a game on its head within a split second. They showed their deadliness in sweeping aside Uganda in Rabat on Tuesday evening.
For Eric Chelle, the triumvirate of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze at the fore, and the duo of Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi at the rear provide some assurance. With Osimhen still looking for his first goal of the tournament, the Carthage Eagles could be under tremendous pressure from Nigeria’s ace forward who boasts 31 goals in 47 matches.
Midfield lubricator Alexander Iwobi, likely to win his 93rd cap, will be expected to play a key role in Nigeria’s challenge for the three points. Captain Wilfred Ndidi will surely be called upon several times to break up the play of the fast-paced Tunisians.
Days 8 (Thursday, 25 December, 2025)
NSF.com – A Platform Born Out Of Passion
NAIJASUPERFANS.com (NSF.com) is one of the digital platforms that we launched at Complete Communications Limited in 2018 ahead of the termination of the print version of Complete Sports newspaper in 2022.
Building A Vision For Naija Sports Fans
Like Complete Football Extra, NSF.com is ‘my baby’ in the sense that I conceptualized it from scratch. But I am also the first to admit that the platform has suffered a topsy turvy existence and is yet to fulfill my vision as a hub for “Naija sports fans” as it’s name suggests. But I’m not giving up on it.
A Christmas Day Nudge From The Newsroom
Ayomide Matthew is my assistant editor on NSF.com. He has been uploading my AFCON Daily Dairy on the website since the start of the tournament (in addition to CompleteSports.com). When Ayo didn’t see my installment for Christmas Day, Thursday, 25 December, he sent a message to request for it. “OK,” I responded. “So, you don’t want me to rest at all? Now I know the type of ‘friend’ that you are.”
Also Read: AFCON 2025 Diary Day 7: Inside Super Eagles’ Moroccan Kitchen, Jollof Rice & ‘Third World War’ Joke
“I’m sorry, sir; sorry sir,” he quickly replied. “You can take a rest then. Enjoy your day, sir (Lol),” he concluded. So, I went on to ‘enjoy’ my day by engaging in a marathon sleep. I woke up on Friday morning, feeling refreshed.
Yours truly at Complexe Sportif de Fez before the Christmas day break at AFCON 2025
A Well-Deserved AFCON Rest Day In Morocco
For all the readers that missed my diary of December 25, there goes the explanation for my absence. Luckily, it was also a rest day at the AFCON here in Morocco, so we didn’t miss any action. The only downside of the day for me was the sad news from Nigeria that a suicide bomber killed five people and injured 35 others in a mosque in Maiduguri. Why?
Mourning Tragedy Amid Festive Reflections
Honestly, I can’t stop wondering about exactly what these murderers want to achieve with their mass killings. But I am positive that, no matter how long it takes, their evil ideology will be defeated and good will trump evil in the end. My condolences go to the families of the dead and to those who suffered injuries in the senseless attack.
Signing Off With Christmas Wishes And Tunisia In View
So much for my diary for Thursday, 25 December, 2025. Merry Christmas to my readers in arrears. See you tomorrow, Friday, to preview Nigeria’s next game against Tunisia on Saturday….
The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) served up a night of tension and fine margins on Friday, December 26, with penalties, VAR calls and late saves defining a series of crucial group matches across Morocco.
At the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, hosts Morocco were held to a 1-1 draw by Mali in a contest dominated by spot kicks and officiating reviews.
The breakthrough arrived deep into first-half stoppage time when Brahim Diaz stepped up to convert from 12 yards after a VAR check confirmed a handball by Mali defender Nathan Gassama.
Mali refused to be rattled and earned their own penalty shortly after the hour. Lassine Sinayoko was brought down in the area by Jawad El Yamiq, and despite a wall of whistles from the stands, he calmly rolled his effort under goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to restore parity.
The closing stages belonged to Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra, who produced a sharp save with his legs to deny Youssef En-Nesyri and later reacted quickly to prevent an own goal in stoppage time. The draw keeps Morocco top of Group A on four points, with Mali and Zambia on two, while Comoros remain bottom on one point.
Earlier in the AFCON 2025 group campaign on Friday, Comoros and Zambia played out a goalless draw that left both sides with plenty to ponder. Comoros thought they had taken the lead midway through the first half when Myziane Maolida tapped into an empty net following fine wing play from Rafiki Said.
However, VAR intervened and referee Ahmad Imtehaz Heeralall ruled the goal out after spotting a foul in the build-up by Yacine Bourhane.
Comoros went closest again late on when Faiz Selemani headed onto the roof of the net with Zambia goalkeeper Willard Mwanza caught out of position. The result leaves Zambia knowing they likely need a win against Morocco in Rabat, while Comoros face Mali in Casablanca on Monday.
In Group B, Egypt sealed their place in the knockout rounds with a gritty 1-0 win over South Africa, despite finishing the match with ten men. Captain Mohamed Salah once again delivered when it mattered, scoring from the penalty spot just before half-time after VAR confirmed a foul by Khuliso Mudau.
Moments later, Egypt were reduced to ten when Mohamed Hany received a second yellow card for stepping on Teboho Mokoena. South Africa pressed hard in the second half and came agonisingly close late on, but goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy produced a crucial stoppage-time save to preserve the lead.
Egypt now sit top of Group B, with South Africa second on three points. Angola and Zimbabwe remain in the hunt after sharing a 1-1 draw in Marrakech.
Angola struck first through Gelson Dala, who finished clinically in the 24th minute. Zimbabwe responded with resilience and were rewarded just before the break when experienced striker Knowledge Musona pounced from close range in added time.
The second half was fiercely contested, with both sides trading chances and yellow cards as neither could find a winner. The draw gives both teams their first point of the tournament and leaves Group B finely balanced heading into the final round of fixtures at the 2025 AFCON.
Nigeria midfielder, Raphael Onyedika has given his consent to a big money move to Turkish Super Lig champions Galatasaray, DAILY POST reports.
Galatasaray have been courting the Club Brugge star for the past two years.
The Yellow and Reds came close to signing Onyedika last summer but Club Brugge blocked the move.
The 24-year-old has now told Galatasaray he is open to joining them in January if they can reach agreement with Club Brugge, according to reports emanating from Turkey.
Club Brugge are expected to demand around €25m for the defensive midfielder.
Galatasaray however value Onyedika around €15m.
Okan Buruk’s side have also been linked with another Nigerian star, Ademola Lookman.
Former Nigerian international Ahmed Garba says he’s optimistic the Super Eagles will pick up the maximum three points against Tunisia in tonight’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group C clash.
Recall that a win for either side will seal qualification to the round of 16 of the tournament, having won their respective opening games against Tanzania and Uganda.
In a chat with Footy Africa, Garba stated that he expects the Super Eagles to step up their game against the Carthage Eagles.
Read Also:AFCON 2025: Tunisia Ready For ‘Strong Opponent’ Super Eagles — Trabelsi
“Against Tunisia, the boys have to be brave and take the game to them. I remember our last meeting with Tunisia at the AFCON in Cameroon, where we won all our group games but ended up losing to them. That red card to Alex Iwobi was painful and played a big role in our defeat, even though I felt we were the better team on the day
“I reckon the boys, especially those who were in Cameroon, will be fired up and seeking some form of revenge. I am sure it will be on their minds.
“I believe we will see a better performance against Tunisia, and the boys will take the three points and go top of the group.”
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ASHES BREAKFAST: Australia collapses again to leave England sniffing a rare win on day two of fourth Ashes Test, Gus Atkinson limps off – and why Cameron Green is in the firing line
Australia’s second batting collapse of the match left England needing 175 to pull off their first win in this country since January 2011, since when their record has been 16 defeats out of 18.
Having folded for 152 on the first day, Australia staggered to 132 on the second, which meant they had been dismissed twice in 79.5 overs, their worst effort in a Test match since 1928-19, when they lasted 76.1 against England at Brisbane.
There were four wickets for Brydon Carse and three for Ben Stokes, who helped make up for a hamstring injury to Gus Atkinson, of which more below.
Still life in Bazball yet…?
England’s chase was given a raucous start by Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, who brought up the 50 stand in just 6.5 overs, with Crawley lofting Michael Neser down the ground for six, and Duckett reverse-scooping him for six more.
Duckett’s fun ended on 34, when he was yorked by Mitchell Starc, before England sent in Carse to have a heave-ho at No 3. He made only six before top-edging a hoick off Jhye Richardson to Cameron Green at third man, before Crawley and Jacob Bethell took a significant chunk off the target, adding 47 before Crawley was trapped lbw by Boland for 37.
England’s chase was given a raucous start by Zak Crawley (pictured) and Ben Duckett, who brought up the 50 stand in just 6.5 overs
Pundits pitch in
It was hard, perhaps impossible, to find an ex-pro at the MCG with anything nice to say about the pitch served up by curator Matt Page. After 20 wickets on the first day, another 12 had fallen by tea on the second, with Michael Vaughan slamming the conditions on X.
‘This pitch is a joke,’ he tweeted at lunch. ‘This is selling the game short. The players, broadcasters and more importantly the fans. 26 wickets in 98 overs!!!!!’ Later, Kevin Pietersen tweeted: ‘Utter shambles and complete disrespect to the greatest form of the game!’
Short but not very sweet!
Spare a thought for the fans who opted to have Christmas at home before flying in from the UK for the third day of this game. After all, before this series, there had been only two two-day finishes in Australia, in 1930-31 and 2022-23.
Now, we’ve had two in four matches. James, a listener to Test Match Special, spoke on behalf of thousands of fans when he complained: ‘On a flight to Melbourne from the UK with day three tickets. I can’t believe it will probably be all over by then!’
All bowled out
One by one, England’s fast bowlers – who arrived in Australia to such fanfare – have fallen by the wayside. First it was Mark Wood, who as ruled out of the series after hurting his left knee at Perth. Then Jofra Archer strained his left side after bowling heroically at Adelaide.
Now Gus Atkinson leaves the field on the second day in Melbourne, which will probably mean a first Ashes Test for Matthew Potts at Sydney. Who knows, even Matthew Fisher, plucked from the England Lions squad as Wood’s replacement, may enter the mix.
Gus Atkinson clutches his leg before leaving the field on day two of the Melbourne Test
Green draws Aussie ire
Impatience is growing with Cameron Green following his latest batting failure in a series in which he now averages 18 with the bat and 52 with the ball. After carving Ben Stokes to Harry Brook at second slip for 19, he incurred the commentary-box wrath of former Australia opener Simon Katich, who fumed: ‘It’s pre-determined rubbish.
Watch the ball and play it instinctively off the track.’ Green recently fetched £2m at the IPL auction, but his red-ball stock has fallen over the past few weeks.
England fail to take advantage
If England had been told in advance that one of Australia’s openers would be averaging 20 after four Tests, and their No 3 would be averaging below 25, they’d have danced for joy.
Between them, Jake Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne have now passed 50 three times in 16 innings, with Weatherald’s only innings of note – 72 at Brisbane – coming when England fed his cut shot. The trouble is, almost all the tourists’ batsmen have fared as badly, cancelling out any potential benefit.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles will play Tunisia on Saturday in their second match of the group stage in the 2025 AFCON ongoing in Morocco.
Super Eagles forward, Paul Onuachu has predicted the outcome of the game.
Nigeria will be in control of Group C and will move on to the next round if they win against Tunisia.
Nigeria and Tunisia each won their first matches in the tournament, defeating Tanzania and Uganda with scores of 2-1 and 3-1, respectively.
Before playing against the tough Tunisian team, the tallest player from Nigeria, Onuachu, predicted a win for his team.
Onuachu, who plays for the Turkish team, Trabzonspor, said the Super Eagles are in Morocco to win the competition
“I think we have strong players and a good team that can really push forward to the next level,” Onuachu told reporters before the game against the North African team.
“Even before arriving here, we always think about winning the AFCON.”
Eric Chelle of Nigeria is planning to use his strongest players in the match against Tunisia.
Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle has hinted at potential tactical changes ahead of Nigeria’s clash with Tunisia on Saturday night at the ongoing AFCON tournament in Fez, Morocco.
The Malian coach revealed that he is weighing two approaches for the crucial encounter at the Fez Stadium.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Chelle explained that he is considering shifting from his usual possession-based style to a more direct approach, given the quality of the Tunisian side.
“I cannot talk about my starting eleven, you will see at the beginning of the game, I can tell you something, now in my mind,” he said.
“I have two options, the first is to maybe let the ball go to Tunisia and when we get the ball go directly to score a goal or to continue with our philosophy because Tunisia is a great game maybe we will change something.”
Nigeria currently sits second in Group C with three points after opening their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 2-1 victory over Tanzania on Tuesday evening.
Meanwhile, Tunisia leads the group on goal difference, holding the same number of points after their 3-1 win against Uganda.
A win for the Super Eagles in their upcoming clash would boost their chances of topping the group and potentially avoiding a stronger opponent in the knockout stages.
Tunisia head coach Sami Trabelsi has declared his team ready for battle against the Super Eagles of Nigeria, reports Completesports.com.
The Carthage Eagles will be targeting a place in the Round of 16 when they confront Éric Chelle’s men in their Group C encounter in Fès tonight.
The North Africans started their campaign with a comfortable 3-1 win over the Cranes of Uganda.
Nigeria have the edge over Tunisia at the AFCON with four wins from seven games.
Trabelsi however said past results won’t matter in the game.
“Yes, in the last game there was no real expression. When we play with only organised offense and defense, it decreases the performance of some players. Nigeria are strong offensively and defensively.
“All players will be involved, not only defenders. We focus only on the field; social media or past results will not affect us.
“Hazem is fit and doing better in training. There is no national team without weak points, and we have studied Nigeria’s. To go far, we must beat big teams.”
SPORT
Ashes LIVE: Shocking Aussie collapse gifts England chance to win first Ashes Test on Australian soil since 2010 as Boxing Day match goes down to the wire – on day two
WICKET: Carse c Green b Richardson
Over 9: England 1-61 (trail by 113)
Over 8: England 1-56 (trail by 118)
Over 7: England 1-51 (trail by 123)
WICKET: Duckett 34 b Starc
Over 6: England 0-45 (trail by 129)
Over 5: England 0-34 (trail by 140)
REVIEW: Duckett LBW Starc
Over 4: England 0-26 (trail by 148)
Over 3: England 0-15 (trail by 159)
Over 2: England 0-9 (trailed by 165)
Over 1: England 0-5 (trail by 169)
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Ashes LIVE: Shocking Aussie collapse gifts England chance to win first Ashes Test on Australian soil since 2010 as Boxing Day match goes down to the wire – on day two
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This Boxing Day was a sad blot on English top-flight history thanks to the Premier League and Sky – but my day at Stockport County reminded me of all that’s beautiful about this treasured tradition, writes OLIVER HOLT
The programme seller was there as usual on the corner of Worrall Street and Mercian Way. The same spot where a programme seller has stood for the 45 years I’ve been going to Edgeley Park.
You pay your £3.50 by card these days and he smiled as I held mine out. ‘The machine’s being a bit slow,’ he said. ‘I think it’s got a hangover from Christmas Day.’ It took a few beats before it offered up its green tick.
It was comforting to know there are still some Boxing Day football traditions the Premier League and Sky cannot ruin; everything about the sell-out fixture between Stockport County and Lincoln City felt like a celebration of the heritage of the game.
The decimation of this year’s Boxing Day Premier League fixture list by the Premier League and Sky is an act of cultural vandalism that should never have been allowed to happen, but it did at least serve a purpose.
It reminded everyone of quite how much scorn the authorities and some broadcasters hold for ordinary supporters, in this case those of England’s top-flight teams, and it may have encouraged other fans to visit Football League games and experience the connection that still exists between communities and their teams lower down the divisions.
Before kick-off, some of the chat was about the chaotic first day of the Fourth Test in Australia. The Boxing Day Test, it’s called. Good job the Premier League aren’t anywhere near that. They’d soon have it rescheduled to start on the 27th or the 28th. Tradition is bunk, right?
Oliver Holt was at his club Stockport County’s 2-1 defeat by Lincoln City on Boxing Day
Boxing Day games are one of English football’s great traditions but the Premier League and Sky show little respect for them
It was a sell-out crowd at Edgeley Park. The absence of top-flight games probably didn’t do the attendance any harm but Stockport are a club in rude health at the moment and this was a top-of-the-table clash.
The legendary former ITV commentator John Helm was in the press box, working for Lincoln, and he pointed me in the direction of an item in the Stockport programme, entitled ‘My Favourite Boxing Day Game’.
The game in question was Stockport 3 Wolves 2 from 1999 and the writer remembered it for the fact Stockport’s Ian Thomas-Moore got stuck in holiday traffic on the way to the game, arrived at half-time having been included among the substitutes, scored with his first touch and then got an injury-time winner.
There were no glories like that for Stockport on Friday. This time, Lincoln grabbed a late penalty winner. When the final whistle went, the ritual was over. The crowd spilled into the dark streets, back to brave the in-laws, back to tackle the leftovers.
A few miles to the north, Manchester United and Newcastle were getting ready for the only top-flight match of Boxing Day, a lower number than any time in 43 years. For those who value tradition and points of difference, it was a sad day for our game.
There is much to be admired about Sky’s projection of football in this country. The match coverage is outstanding. It always has been. The match analysis is outstanding, too. It always has been. Monday Night Football is consistently must-watch broadcasting.
There is no one on television I would rather watch dissecting a game than Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher. There is no better polemicist than Roy Keane. David Jones is a master of his craft, who holds it all together. He stops the coverage turning into the grisly festival of banter others allow.
But there is a price to pay for all of that. There is a cost. And the cost is getting heavier with every season that passes. Because Sky are tearing and tearing at the fabric of our game and getting more and more bold and more and more destructive and more and more cavalier in their taste for demolition.
Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Newcastle was the only Boxing Day match in the Premier League; it used to be 10 games until recently
The disdain for matchgoing supporters, who love the tradition, is clear for all to see
Soon the Premier League will have corporatised itself entirely; at least the lower leagues hold onto more of their traditions
The demolition has happened in stages, starting with the move away from Saturday 3pm kick-offs until we have reached a point where Saturday at 3pm often seems to be the exception rather than the rule in the Premier League. Match-going fans have always been close to the bottom of Sky’s food chain. They are treated with contempt.
Sky are also the primary evangelists in the unrelenting attempt to persuade younger viewers that English football began in 1992, when Sky started to broadcast the game. Nothing before then matters. Sky rebuilt football in their image, a shiny, bastardised view of football, where no one ever played on mud pitches or rode murderous tackles.
In Skyland, there were no great goalscorers before 1992. In Skyland, the only record that matters is the Premier League goals record. If you were to suggest Jimmy Greaves is the man to beat, not Alan Shearer, it would remind everyone there was football out there before Sky got involved in it and anointed 1992 as the top flight’s Year Zero.
So now, between them, the Premier League and Sky have desecrated the Boxing Day fixture list. Their disdain for the match-going supporter, in fact, was so brazen it was almost funny. Not content with wiping out one of the great traditions of our sport, the game at Old Trafford was given an 8pm kick-off, making it as difficult as possible for the travelling fans from the north-east to attend.
One top-flight game on Boxing Day? When others look back, in the future, at how football was allowed to be ripped from the grasp of supporters, this will be one of the landmark days, one of the times where people say: ‘Why did no one try to stop this? Why did no one protest?’
In the great gold rush of greed, our game is being homogenised and stripped of the character and the beautiful idiosyncrasies that made it so attractive to television moguls in the first place.
Soon, everything will have been corporatized and sanitised and commodified. Soon, our game will have no traditions left. Or, at least, none that predate 1992.
Paul Onuachu has said coming to this year’s AFCON in Morocco, he and his Super Eagles colleagues already have it at the back of their mind that they have to win the tournament.
The Super Eagles will be back in action on Saturday night when they will face Group C leaders Tunisia.
While the Super Eagles edged out Tanzania 2-1 in their first match, Tunisia recorded a 3-1 victory over Uganda.
Commenting ahead of the big clash, Onuachu told journalists at the Super Eagles training:”Nigeria is a big country and Tunisia is also a football nation, but I think we have the players and squad to take it to the next level.
Also Read: AFCON 2025: We’ll Do Everything Possible To Get The Job Done Against Tunisia –Dele-Bashiru
“I think there are lots of strong teams and the game against Tunisia will not determine anything and even already coming here we have it at the back of our mind that we have to win the AFCON. But like I said earlier we have to take each game as it comes.”
Since making his AFCON debut in 2019 in Egypt, Onuachu is yet to register a single goal in the tournament.
The Trabzonspor strike le was introduced for Victor Osimhen in the win against Tanzania.
By James Agberebi in Fes, Morocco
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Ruben Amorim reveals why he finally changed Man United’s formation – and jokes he can enjoy Boxing Day with no need to talk about ‘clean sheet, back four or Kobbie Mainoo’
Ruben Amorim has revealed he opted for a back four to cause Newcastle ‘more danger’ after Manchester United secured all three points on Boxing Day.
Despite only having 33 per cent possession at Old Trafford, the Portuguese’s side overcame the travelling Magpies thanks to a stunning left-footed volley from Patrick Dorgu in the first half.
The Dane was deployed as a right winger in United’s new-found system, which saw Amorim at last compromise on his principles and play a back four of Diogo Dalot, Ayden Heaven, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw.
‘I think we spent a lot of time with each other, had low moments, that can sometimes bring good things to the group, experienced players helped the kids,’ the United boss said post-match.
‘I think in the first half we showed it (the back four) was the only way to create more danger, was with a back four, with a lot of guys inside, even to keep the ball. I remember from the game last year, we lost 1 vs 1 outside so we just tried to imagine the game of the players to feel comfortable.
‘You put Dorgu in a position that is more in front where the responsibility is not the same, he has more freedom to lose the ball and I think it helped Patrick play better. Ugarte also had a very good day today.’
Ruben Amorim has opened up on his decision to play a back four in United’s 1-0 win over Newcastle
The Red Devils secured all three points thanks to a stunning volley from Patrick Dorgu
Amorim also opened up about his decision to bring on Jack Fletcher, son of Darren, before making a subtle joke about Kobbie Mainoo.
Mainoo has been absent from United’s last two games with a calf injury and, with the January transfer window on the horizon, could be out the door next month. He’s yet to start a single Premier League game this campaign.
‘It is a very important moment for any kid, he’s (Fletcher’s) going to hear a lot from his father, Darren.
‘He is really humble, works really hard and deserves this. We have a squad and we tried to choose the best players to play. I understand the history of the club and want to be part of that (playing youngsters), but sometimes you just need to choose the best players to win.
‘Clean sheet, back four, Kobbie Mainoo is injured – we don’t need a press conference I think all the subjects… we can go home to enjoy Boxing Day, I think.’
The United boss’s decision to change his preferred 3-4-3 formation comes just a couple of months after he claimed ‘not even the Pope’ could make him alter his methods.
Amorim had been urged to switch to a back four by pundits, fans and former players amid his side’s leaking defence which has seen them concede some 28 goals already this term.
Speaking after the Manchester derby back in September, Amorim said: ‘No one (could make me change’. Not even the Pope.
‘This is my job. This is my responsibility. This is my life. So, I will not change that.’
Tonight’s victory, in the absence of Bruno Fernandes, sees United move up to fifth in the table, level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea.
The Reds are next in action on Tuesday against Premier League strugglers Wolves at Old Trafford.
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Ruben Amorim reveals why he finally changed Man United’s formation – and jokes he can enjoy Boxing Day with no need to talk about ‘clean sheet, back four or Kobbie Mainoo’
Brahim Díaz and Lassine Sinayoko scored via penalty as Morocco played out a 1-1 draw against Mali in Friday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The first half was intense, with Mali showing a solid, physical game that made the opening 30 minutes a real midfield battle. Morocco gradually increased their tempo and created chances, but the Mali defense held firm.
Read Also: AFCON 2025: We’ll Do Everything Possible To Get The Job Done Against Tunisia –Dele-Bashiru
However, Brahim Díaz put Morocco ahead just before halftime (47′), converting a penalty to continue his strong start to the tournament after scoring in the opening match against Comoros.
In the second half, Mali was awarded a penalty after a defensive challenge, and Lassine Sinayoko confidently converted (64′), leveling the score at 1-1. Despite Morocco dominating possession and creating multiple chances, they couldn’t find the winner.
Morocco top the group on four points, with Mali and Zambia on two points and Comoros bottom on one point after their 0-0 draw with the southern Africans earlier on Friday.
Abakaliki FC have set Sunday, January 28 as the resumption date for the second stanza of the 2025/26 Nigeria National League, NNL season.
The Rice Boys embarked on a one-week break at the end of the first stanza on Monday.
Abakaliki FC held Osun United to a 3-3 draw in their last game of the first round in Osogbo.
The club recorded three wins, three draws and one defeat in the first half of the season. They currently occupy third position on the Conference B table with 12 points.
Abakaliki FC will face First Bank FC when the second half of the campaign resumes in January.
Nigeria winger Samuel Chukwueze has said it is important for the Africa Cup of Nations to be respected by the football world.
European clubs have constantly criticised the timing of the AFCON.
Teams in the Premier League are always mostly affected, with some of them losing their players for up to one month.
Chukwueze believed that playing in the AFCON is a big honour, and the competition must be respected like the World Cup and European Championships.
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He told Reuters: “Everyone wants to play in AFCON. It is one of the best tournaments in the world. You have to respect AFCON in the same way that you respect the EM or the World Cup.
“We understand that they have planned it at the wrong time of the year, but when it is important and you are taken off, you have to leave.
“You have no choice, your club can’t stop you, and no one should say anything bad about AFCON.
“Yes, they have put it at the wrong time, but to say it’s not a good or big tournament is unacceptable.”
By Adeboye Amosu