AFCON: Countdown as Nigeria faces Tunisia in titanic battle

By Tosin Omojola –

Nigeria and Tunisia will set Fez literally on fire on Saturday as they face off in their second Group C game at the 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), ongoing in Morocco.

The Super Eagles, as the Nigerian side is known, and the Carthage Eagles, as the Tunisians are called, will be aiming for their second straight win in the battle of the Eagles.

Nigeria and Tunisia go into this encounter with three points each in their kitty, having won their opening matches against Tanzania and Uganda respectively.

Based on statistics released by the Communications Department of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Saturday’s tie will be the 22nd meeting between the two countries in all competitions at senior level.

According to the NFF, the two countries have had 21 previous clashes prior to Saturday’s encounter in Morocco.

Here are the official past clashes between the duo:

25 Nov 1961: Nigeria 2–1 Tunisia (AFCON qualifier in Lagos)

10 Dec 1961: Tunisia 2–2 Nigeria (AFCON qualifier in Tunis): Match inconclusive as Nigeria walked off the pitch

25 Sep 1977: Tunisia 0–0 Nigeria (World Cup qualifier in Tunis)

12 Nov 1977: Nigeria 0–1 Tunisia (World Cup qualifier in Lagos)

16 Mar 1978: Tunisia 0–2 Nigeria (AFCON in Kumasi): Match at 1–1 when Tunisia walked off the pitch

29 Jun 1980: Tunisia 2–0 Nigeria (World Cup qualifier in Tunis)

12 Jul 1980: Nigeria 2–0 Tunisia (World Cup qualifier in Lagos): Nigeria win 4–3 on penalties

29 Sep 1984: Tunisia 5–0 Nigeria (Friendly in Tunis)

06 Jul 1985: Nigeria 1–0 Tunisia (World Cup qualifier in Lagos)

20 Jul 1985: Tunisia 2–0 Nigeria (World Cup qualifier in Tunis)

22 Feb 1992: Tunisia 1–1 Nigeria (SCSA in Tunis)

09 Aug 1997: Tunisia 2–0 Nigeria (LG Cup in Tunis)

23 Jan 2000: Nigeria 4–2 Tunisia (AFCON in Lagos)

11 Feb 2004: Tunisia 1–1 Nigeria (AFCON in Radès): Tunisia win 4–3 on penalties

04 Feb 2006: Tunisia 1–1 Nigeria (AFCON in Port Said): Nigeria win 6–5 on penalties

20 Jun 2009: Tunisia 0–0 Nigeria (World Cup qualifier in Radès)

06 Sep 2009: Nigeria 2–2 Tunisia (World Cup qualifier in Abuja)

22 Jan 2016: Tunisia 1–1 Nigeria (CHAN in Kigali)

17 Jul 2019: Nigeria 1–0 Tunisia (AFCON in Cairo)

13 Oct 2020: Tunisia 1–1 Nigeria (Friendly in St. Veit, Austria)

23 Jan 2022: Tunisia 1–0 Nigeria (AFCON in Garoua)