By Kunle Solaja.

Head-to-Head

Under the Rabat night sky, where expectation often weighs heavier than history, Tunisia and Uganda will step onto the pitch at the Stade Annexe Olympique, Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah on Tuesday, each carrying a different story but sharing the same ambition — to matter in Group C of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Numbers, History and Pride are key elements as both strive to take vital points in the duel scheduled to begin at 9 pm local time and also by Nigerian time.

The numbers underline the scale of the task facing Uganda. In five previous meetings spanning 63 years, Tunisia have won all five, scoring 16 goals and conceding just once. Uganda’s lone goal against the North Africans came as far back as 1976, a statistic that sets the backdrop for tonight’s contest.

This will be the third time the sides meet at the Africa Cup of Nations. Their first encounter came in 1962 in Addis Ababa, when Tunisia went on to claim bronze after a 3–0 victory.

They crossed paths again in the 1978 group stage in Kumasi, with Tunisia prevailing 3–1. The most emphatic result overall arrived in 1999, when Tunisia recorded a commanding 6–0 win in Tunis during the qualifiers.

More than two decades later, Tunisia returned to the continental stage under head coach Samy Trabelsi, carrying both expectation and responsibility. The Carthage Eagles are making their 22nd AFCON appearance and their 17th in succession, a record that reflects consistency at the highest level of African football.

Speaking ahead of the match, Trabelsi praised the organisation and facilities in Morocco, noting similarities in weather and conditions to Tunisia. He also warned against complacency. “African football has evolved. Every team is competitive and can make things difficult,” he said.

On the pitch, Tunisia will look to experienced figures such as midfielder Elyes Skhiri to dictate the tempo. Skhiri stressed the importance of starting strongly after disappointments in recent editions. “We must compete to win and not take any team for granted,” he said. “Uganda are no pushovers.”

Uganda, meanwhile, arrive in Rabat determined to challenge the narrative. The Cranes are making their eighth AFCON appearance and their first since 2019, and head coach Paul Put believes his side is ready to compete on the big stage. “We are proud to be here and focused on the game,” Put said. “The team is gradually gelling into a strong side.”

Midfielder Khalid Aucho echoed that confidence, insisting Uganda are motivated by outside doubts. “Many people have not given us a chance, but we are focused on making our nation proud,” he said.

As Group C takes shape, Tunisia’s flawless head-to-head record contrasts sharply with Uganda’s ambition to rewrite history. Under the Rabat lights, past statistics will count for little once the whistle blows, as both sides chase a strong start to their AFCON campaign.

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Uganda coach Paul Put believes Tunisia’s perfect record will not be a decisive factor ahead of their Group C clash at the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday.

Tunisia are unbeaten in their last seven matches and drew 1-1 with Brazil in their most recent friendly. They also finished the African World Cup qualifiers without conceding a goal, winning nine times and avoiding defeat in 10 matches.

Uganda, meanwhile, have lost twice in their last three games, against Algeria in World Cup qualifying and Morocco in a friendly, and will test themselves against another North African side in their group opener.

“To be honest, I am not busy with these kinds of things. We are facing Tunisia, who did not lose for many games,” Put told a press conference on Monday.

The Belgian coach, whose side are ranked 85th in the world, added: “It is a big team with very good players. But also we have a good team”.

Uganda began preparations for the tournament on December 8 in Morocco, despite FIFA’s decision to allow foreign-based players to join their national teams only one week before the competition, but Put refused to make excuses.

“‘It is a big and a good opportunity, because you are going to play not only for the African continent, but also for the whole world who watch this tournament,” he said. “I think we have the motivation, and we are going to do our level best to give a good performance.”

-Reuters

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Ahead of Nigeria’s match with Tanzania in a Group C contest at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, Goldberg Lager Beer has launched a nationwide fan engagement campaign designed to mobilise support for the Super Eagles and rekindle the passion that drove the team to the final of the last tournament in Côte d’Ivoire.

The Super Eagles have been drawn in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania, a pool widely regarded as one of the most competitive at the tournament.

Nigeria will begin their AFCON 2025 campaign against Tanzania on December 23 at the Complexe Sportif de Fès, before taking on Tunisia on December 27 and wrapping up the group stage against Uganda on December 30.

Goldberg’s campaign, themed ‘Our Beat, Our Gold’, is built around the rhythm, pride and resilience that unite Nigerians through football. The initiative positions the brand as a central part of the AFCON experience, combining live match viewing with music, entertainment and consumer rewards.

A flagship viewing centre will be hosted at the Police College in Ikeja, Lagos, with activities starting from 4:30 pm and free admission for fans.

This Lagos hub will be complemented by a network of fan parks and mini viewing centres across the country, extending the match-day experience to both major cities and regional communities.

According to the organisers, the activations aim to transform key locations nationwide into vibrant communal spaces on Nigeria’s match days, allowing supporters to come together in lively and safe environments to cheer on the Super Eagles.

The viewing centres are being designed as immersive cultural spaces where football meets entertainment.

Fans will enjoy live match action alongside music, dance, comedy performances and interactive games, with promotions and instant rewards enhancing the atmosphere.

The objective, Goldberg said, is to recreate the emotional intensity of the stadium experience for supporters watching away from the match venues.

“Our Beat, Our Gold is about capturing the rhythm of the Nigerian spirit,” said Maria Shadeko, Portfolio Manager for Premium Beer at Nigerian Breweries Plc. “Football has a unique way of bringing us together. At the last AFCON, we saw how belief, passion and unity carried the Super Eagles all the way to the final. As the team prepares for action in Morocco, Goldberg is once again creating spaces where Nigerians can gather, celebrate and push our Eagles towards a fourth AFCON title.”

Beyond fan-facing activities, the campaign also features strong trade and distributor engagement.

Through the Road to Morocco hospitality contest, Goldberg is rewarding top-performing distributors across the West and East zones with exclusive AFCON-related incentives.

 The initiative is expected to boost sales performance while aligning the brand’s commercial goals with Nigeria’s continental football journey.

With AFCON 2025 fast approaching, Goldberg’s campaign aims to ensure that wherever Nigerians are watching from, the beat of support for the Super Eagles remains loud, unified and unmistakably gold.

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