Super Eagles Head Coach Mr. Eric Chelle and senior members of the Nigerian squad have spoken of the need for focus, tactical flexibility, and mental strength ahead of Saturday’s decisive Group C clash against Tunisia at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

Mr. Chelle described Tunisia as a disciplined and unpredictable side, warning that Nigeria must strike a careful balance between staying true to their identity and adapting tactically to counter their opponents’ strengths.

“Tunisia are a great and very tricky team. We must decide whether to stay true to our philosophy or adapt slightly to counter their strengths,” the coach said.

He noted that Nigeria could either press aggressively or allow Tunisia spells of possession, but stressed that commitment, direct play, and winning second balls would be non-negotiable.

“We must fight for every ball, stay compact, and be decisive when we have possession. At this level, details and mentality make the difference,” Mr. Chelle added.

Super Eagles captain Mr. Wilfred Ndidi said the team remained mentally strong and highly motivated following their 2–1 opening victory over Tanzania, which has boosted confidence within the camp.

“The spirit in camp is very high. Winning our first game gave us confidence, but we also reviewed our mistakes and worked hard to improve,” he said.

Mr. Ndidi acknowledged that the painful defeat to Tunisia at the 2021 AFCON still lingered, but said the players had chosen to channel the experience positively rather than dwell on the past.

“That loss hurt a lot because we were flying then. But this is a new team, a new challenge, and a fresh opportunity to write our own story,” he said.

Echoing that confidence, Super Eagles striker Mr. Paul Onuachu said Nigeria respected Tunisia but remained assured of their quality, depth, and ambition to challenge strongly for continental honours.

“Nigeria is a great football country. Tunisia are strong too, but we have the players and the squad to take our game to the next level,” he said.

Mr. Onuachu added that the Eagles arrived in Morocco with a winning mentality, stressing that success would depend on taking the tournament one match at a time.

“We came here believing we can win AFCON. There are many strong teams, so we stay focused and approach every game step by step,” he said.

Midfielder Mr. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru described the Tunisia encounter as pivotal to Nigeria’s ambition of finishing top of Group C, noting that the prestige of the AFCON itself was sufficient motivation for the squad.

“Just being at AFCON is a huge motivation. Every match matters, and we want to give everything to get the win,” he said.

“It is an important game for us. If we want to top the group, we must do everything possible to get the job done,” he added.

Mr. Dele-Bashiru also highlighted his versatility, pledging full commitment in any role assigned by the technical crew.

“I have played in many positions in my career. Wherever the coach wants me, I will play and try my best to help the team win,” he said.

He stressed the importance of discipline, respect for opponents, and strict adherence to tactical instructions.

“We must treat every game the same way, stay focused, respect our opponents, and follow the coach’s plan,” he added.

Nigeria and Tunisia, both winners in their opening Group C fixtures, will clash at the Complexe Sportif de Fès on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 9 p.m.

The Super Eagles edged Tanzania 2–1 in their opener, while Tunisia recorded a 3–1 victory over Uganda, setting up a high-stakes West Africa–North Africa showdown.

Although Nigeria hold a slight historical edge over Tunisia at AFCON finals, their most recent meeting in the competition, at the 2021 edition, ended in a narrow victory for the Carthage Eagles.

However, both the coaching crew and players insist that history will count for little, stressing that focus, discipline, physical readiness, and execution on the night will determine the outcome.