Ndidi: Super Eagles Ready to Avenge Painful AFCON Defeat to Tunisia

Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has declared that Nigeria are fully prepared to avoid a repeat of their last defeat to Tunisia as both sides get set to clash once again, TalkTalk Nigeria reports.

Nigeria last faced the Carthage Eagles at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, where the West Africans suffered a shocking 1–0 defeat in the Round of 16. The result stunned many fans, especially after the Super Eagles had swept through the group stage with three wins from three matches, earning praise for their free-flowing and confident football.

Tunisia, by contrast, had scraped into the knockout round as one of the best third-placed teams, making Nigeria overwhelming favourites going into the tie. The eventual outcome, however, remains one of the most painful exits in recent Super Eagles history.

Reflecting on that loss, Ndidi admitted it still lingers in the minds of the players but believes it has now become a source of motivation rather than fear.

“It was a painful loss in 2019. But it gives us more confidence. When we talked about it, the guys were really, really prepared,” Ndidi said at a pre-match press conference on Friday.

The Leicester City midfielder insists the current squad is more focused, battle-ready and determined to write a different story this time around.

Opinion: Ndidi’s words capture the mood within the Super Eagles camp — calm, confident and quietly determined. That defeat to Tunisia was a harsh reminder that reputation alone does not win games at AFCON. This time, Nigeria appear wiser and more grounded, aware of the fine margins that decide knockout football. If the Super Eagles can match their attacking flair with discipline and composure, they stand a strong chance of turning old scars into fuel for redemption. For fans, this clash feels less like a group-stage fixture and more like unfinished business.