By Kunle Solaja.

When the Nigeria Super Eagles and Tunisia Carthage Eagles file out this Saturday night for a possible table-topping encounter in Fez, Morocco, the encounter will reignite a rivalry written in walkouts, shootouts, and Milestones. It evokes memories of rivalry that define African football.

Here are some key moments from the previous 21 encounters:

· A long-standing rivalry: Nigeria and Tunisia share a deep-rooted rivalry. This fixture marks Nigeria’s 106th match in Africa Cup of Nations history and Tunisia’s 85th appearance at the tournament.

Nigeria’s Muda Lawal, on the turf, had the special task of policing Tarak Dhiab in a September 25, 1977, World Cup qualifying match.

· History of walkouts: Both teams have staged walkouts in past encounters. Nigeria walked off during an AFCON qualifier in Tunis on 10 December 1961, after a controversial equaliser by Tunisia, with CAF awarding the match to Tunisia. Tunisia, in turn, walked off during the 1978 AFCON third-place match in Kumasi after Baba Otu Mohammed scored Nigeria’s equaliser; CAF awarded the match to Nigeria.

· Seventh AFCON meeting: This will be the seventh Africa Cup of Nations meeting between the two sides, following clashes in 1978 (Kumasi), 2000 (Lagos), 2004 (Radès), 2006 (Port Said), 2019 (Cairo) and 2022 (Garoua).

· AFCON record favours Nigeria: In their six previous AFCON meetings, results have largely favoured Nigeria, except for Tunisia’s penalty shoot-out win in the 2004 semi-final and the Round of 16 victory at the 2021 AFCON (played in 2022).

· Blocked Nigeria’s AFCON debut: Tunisia denied Nigeria qualification for what would have been the Super Eagles’ maiden AFCON appearance in 1962.

· First major competitive dispute: Tunisia became the first country Nigeria had a major competitive altercation with, following Nigeria’s walkout in the 1961 AFCON qualifier in Tunis. Nigeria had won the first leg 2–1 in Lagos and were leading 4–3 on aggregate when they protested what they considered biased officiating by Egyptian referee Mohammed Hassan Helim.

· A historic milestone goal: Nigeria scored their 100th AFCON goal in a match against Tunisia at the 2006 tournament, courtesy of a sixth-minute strike by Obinna Nsofor.

· Kanu’s unique AFCON record: African football legend Nwankwo Kanu played 27 AFCON matches across six tournaments without scoring from open play. His only goal contribution came via a penalty in the 2006 shoot-out against Tunisia, where he was Nigeria’s reluctant eighth and final taker.

· Okocha’s historic strike: Nigeria’s Jay-Jay Okocha scored the 1,000th goal in Africa Cup of Nations history on Tunisian soil.

Augustine Jay-Jay Okocha (R) scores the thousandth goal of the AFCON against South Africa in the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations played in Tunisia

· Infamous own goal: It was not the first own goal, nor was it the last, yet Godwin Odiye’s notorious own goal, which is the most talked about in Nigeria, came in a World Cup qualifier against Tunisia in Lagos on 12 November 1977, a match Tunisia won.

Godwin Odiye, with a flying header, deflects the ball into Nigeria’s net in a 1978 World Cup qualifying duel with Tunisia in Lagos.

· Nigeria’s first shoot-out: Nigeria’s national team experienced their first-ever penalty shoot-out in a World Cup qualifier against Tunisia on 26 June 1980, after a 2–2 aggregate scoreline. Nigeria won the shoot-out 4–3.

· A Tunisian referee factor: The referee who officiated Nigeria’s penalty shoot-out loss to Cameroon in a later competition was Tunisian official Mourad Daami.

· Penalty shoot-out history: Nigeria have featured in seven AFCON penalty shoot-outs, two of them against Tunisia. The honours are even: Tunisia won in 2004, Nigeria triumphed in 2006.

· Tunisia’s shoot-out record: Tunisia have participated in six AFCON penalty shoot-outs, winning four — against Gabon (1996), Burkina Faso (1998), Nigeria (2004) and Ghana (2019) — and losing twice, to South Africa (2000) and Nigeria (2006).

· A first missed penalty: When Kadiri Ikhana missed his spot-kick in the 1980 shoot-out against Tunisia, he became Nigeria’s first national team player to miss a penalty in such circumstances.

· Three shoot-outs with Tunisia: Of Nigeria’s 11 penalty shoot-outs in all competitions, three have been against Tunisia — in 1980, 2004 and 2006. Only the 2004 Radès encounter ended in Tunisia’s favour.

· End of an era: Nigeria’s 1977 World Cup qualifier against Tunisia marked the final international appearances of defenders Patrick Ekeji and Samuel Ojebode.

Samuel Ojebode and Patrick Ekeji put their hands on their heads as Odiye’s header put the ball into Nigeria’s net in a match that was the last for the duo in the national team.

· World Cup curse: Until the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, Nigeria failed to qualify for every World Cup in which Tunisia featured in their qualifying path — including Argentina ’78, Spain ’82 and Mexico ’86.

· Heavy defeats: Aside from the 7–0 loss to Gold Coast (Ghana) in 1955, Nigeria’s next heaviest defeat was a 5–0 friendly loss to Tunisia on 29 September 1984.

· Coaching baptism of fire: Former Nigeria coach Chris Udemezue began his tenure with a 5–0 defeat to Tunisia in that 1984 friendly, following the temporary withdrawal of Adegboye Onigbinde to assist Shooting Stars’ continental campaign.

· The symbolism of six: The number six played a recurring role in Nigeria’s dramatic qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup at Tunisia’s expense — from shirt numbers and match minutes to group composition, number of matches played, and the late goals conceded by Tunisia that ultimately handed Nigeria the ticket to South Africa 2010.

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One of Africa’s most storied football rivalries takes centre stage again on Saturday as Nigeria and Tunisia lock horns in a high-stakes Group C encounter of the 35th Africa Cup of Nations, at the 35,000-capacity Complexe Sportif de Fès.

Both teams arrive on three points after winning their opening matches, setting up a classic top-of-the-table duel with an early Round of 16 ticket firmly in sight.

With pride, history and momentum on the line, the contest promises intensity, drama and the familiar edge that has defined meetings between the Super Eagles and the Carthage Eagles for more than six decades.

Coaches Eric Chelle and Sami Trabelsi, both former internationals, know the significance of the occasion. Victory would not only strengthen their teams’ qualification prospects but also deliver a psychological statement in one of the tournament’s most competitive groups.

Nigeria and Tunisia have met 21 times since their first encounter 64 years ago, with the rivalry finely balanced. Each side has recorded six victories, while nine matches have ended in draws — some of them resolved only by penalty shootouts. Of the three clashes decided from the spot, Nigeria prevailed twice, including a memorable 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifier and a dramatic AFCON quarter-final in Port Said in 2006.

History between the two nations is rich with controversy. Nigeria walked off the pitch in an AFCON qualifier in Tunis in December 1961 after a disputed goal, while Tunisia staged a similar protest in Kumasi in March 1978 when Nigeria equalised through Baba Otu Mohammed in a bronze-medal match.

Tunisia’s most recent competitive success over Nigeria came four years ago in Cameroon, when a 1–0 Round of 16 victory marked their first competitive win against the Super Eagles since a 1986 World Cup qualifier in 1985.

Trabelsi, who was part of the Tunisian squad that lifted the country’s only AFCON title on home soil in 2004, has an experienced and dangerous squad at his disposal. Captain Ferjani Sassi, Ali Maaloul, Hannibal Mejbri, Dylan Bronn, Ali Ben Romdhane and Yan Valery all featured in the emphatic victory over Uganda in Rabat, underlining Tunisia’s ability to turn games decisively in moments.

Nigeria, however, counter with formidable attacking power. Chelle’s front line is spearheaded by Victor Osimhen, supported by Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze. Osimhen, still searching for his first goal of the tournament, carries a constant threat, having scored 31 goals in 47 appearances for the Super Eagles.

At the back, the pairing of Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi provides defensive stability, while midfield orchestrator Alexander Iwobi, expected to earn his 93rd cap, will be central to Nigeria’s tempo and creativity. Captain Wilfred Ndidi will be tasked with breaking up Tunisia’s fast-paced rhythm.

There have been moments of brilliance, confrontation, walkouts and heartbreak across decades of Nigeria–Tunisia encounters. Saturday’s showdown in Fès is set to add another intense chapter, as Nigeria seeks to cement its status as a genuine title contender and Tunisia, already qualified for next year’s FIFA World Cup, chases a second continental crown.

With history weighing heavily on both sides and qualification momentum at stake, this latest clash of Super Eagles and Carthage Eagles promises to be as compelling as any in their long, dramatic rivalry.

Past Encounters

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Comoros played out a goalless draw with Zambia in the Africa Cup of Nations finals, but the small Indian Ocean island nation came close to an upset win in their Group A clash on Friday.

Comoros had the ball in the net in the 19th minute, but Myziane Maolida’s attempt was ruled out after a VAR review for a foul in the build-up to the goal.

Maolida had tapped in the ball from close range after a mazy run down the left flank by Rafik Saifi, who played in a pinpoint cross.

But possession was won in a dangerous tackle by Yacine Bourhane on Owen Tembo, and after consulting the sideline VAR screen, the referee annulled the goal.

Comoros also had a late chance when Faiz Selemani headed over the top of the Zambia goal after being set up by captain Youssouf M’Changama’s hanging chip.

Zambia, the 2012 winners, put up a laboured showing.

The draw at Stade Mohammed V left Comoros, the smallest nation in the tournament’s 24-team field, with a single point from their opening two matches, after they were beaten by hosts Morocco in last Sunday’s opening match. Zambia have now drawn both their opening fixtures.

Both countries will have a tough last group match on Monday, which, if they lose, will almost certainly see them eliminated.

Comoros must beat Mali in Casablanca on Monday to stand any chance of progress, while Zambia are up against Morocco and in need of at least a draw.

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