We respect Nigeria, but Tunisia is going for glory — Trabelsi

As the countdown to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco gathers pace, Tunisia’s head coach, Samy Trabelsi, has set his sights on nothing less than a semi-final finish — a target that could put him on a collision course with Nigeria’s Super Eagles, one of their group opponents.

The Carthage Eagles head into the tournament with a formidable record: 22 goals scored and none conceded during their World Cup qualifying campaign.

That impressive run has made Tunisia one of the continent’s in-form teams — and, on paper, one of the toughest opponents for Nigeria to face in Group C, which also includes Uganda and Tanzania.

Trabelsi, who previously led Tunisia at the 2013 AFCON and was a losing finalist as a player in 1996, said his team is no longer content with mere participation.

“We’re not here to send messages to anyone,” he told CAFOnline.com.

“We respect all our opponents, including Nigeria, but our goal is to compete seriously and aim for a top-four finish — and, if possible, more.”