AFCON 2025 Diary Day 9: Ndidi’s 2021 Pain, Tunisia Mind Games, Battle Of Eagles In Fez, Mr.ChefNigeria’s Double-Edged Presence And More!

Days 9 (Friday, 26 December, 2025)

IT’S FRIDAY, 26 December, 2025 in Fez, Morocco. It’s the eve of Nigeria’s second Group C match at the 2025 AFCON and their illustrious opponents, Tunisia, arrived in town from their base in Rabat yesterday, Thursday. It promises to be a helluva battle when the two Eagles clash at the Complexe Sportif de Fez. I can’t wait….

Pre-Match Tension Builds As Super Eagles, Tunisia Face The Media

My day began at the media conference room of the Fez Stadium where the pre-match conference was held. As the ‘home team’, Coach Eric Chelle and team captain Wilfred Ndidi took the stage first for the Super Eagles for 27 minutes, followed by Tunisia’s coach Sami Trabelsi and defender Montassar Talbi for around 22 minutes.

I was seated again in the front row of the conference room as I had got there early with photographer Ganiyu Yusuf. Behind me in the second row sat Omofoma Ebare of African Independent Television (AIT). At last, journalists from Nigeria’s traditional TV networks had started arriving in Fez.

Ndidi Reacts To 2021 Heartbreak: ‘That Must Not Happen Again’

For me, the highlight of Nigeria’s session at the presser was when Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi was reminded about the painful second round exit that he and his teammates suffered in the hands of Tunisia in Garoua at the 2021 AFCON in Cameroun. Up until that moment, Ndidi had answered every question very calmly in the usual diplomatic way of according respect for the opponent: ‘Tunisia have great players, they are this, they are that.’ But that question about the 2021 elimination apparently touched a raw nerve on Ndidi and he went a bit bullish……

Also Read: My AFCON Diary: Christmas Day Reflections From Morocco As Tournament Takes A Breather

“This is not about going for revenge or anything like that,” the Nigeria captain began. “They (Tunisia) have a different team now and we also have a different team. But we are determined to make sure that what happened in 2021 does not happen again.” That response by Ndidi made my day. Now I’m looking forward to the Eagles walking the talk against the Tunisians on Saturday.

Chelle Keeps His Cards Close, Hints At Line-Up Changes

On the part of Eric Chelle, the coach predictably didn’t give anything away about his tactical plans for the game. In fact, when one journalist tried to push him to say a bit more, he just looked at him and said, “you know my answer already,” which drew laughter from everyone in the room. However, he finally gave a little away when he said he would probably change a bit his starting lineup from the first game against Tanzania “because Tunisia are a big opponent.”

Private Word With Ndidi On Fans’ Sacrifice And Appreciation

As Chelle and Ndidi rose to leave, I quickly approached the captain from my front row seat to have a private chat. I recalled the less than impressive, long range manner of their appreciation to the supporters after the win against Tanzania, and advised that he should lead his colleagues to do better in their subsequent games. “Those supporters travelled a long way from Nigeria because of you and some of them even came from Canada,” I told him. The captain appreciated my advise and said the players would move closer to the supporters to thank them properly next time. I wished him good luck.

Tunisia Speak Confidently As Carthage Eagles Size Up Nigeria

While Chelle had taken his questions in English and French, and Ndidi spoke only in English, the Tunisian coach Trabelsi spoke in French and Arabic, while his captain Sassi spoke in French, Arabic and English when it was their turn at the press conference. Again, the Tunisian coach spoke diplomatically while his captain was more forthcoming about their chances against the Super Eagles. “Nigeria have a lot of quality and individuality in players like (Victor) Osimhen and (Samuel) Chukwueze whom we respect a lot. But we are very confident in our ability as a team and we will show that in the game tomorrow,” Sassi said.

Battle Of Eagles: Form, History And A Score To Settle

The stage is set then for a battle of the Eagles, Super Eagles versus Carthage Eagles. Coming into this tournament, Tunisia are the form team with an unbeaten run of games. They won nine of their 10 matches and drew one to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scoring 22 goals without conceding any, while Nigeria failed to qualify. Tunisia also won their AFCON 2025 opening game against Uganda more convincingly with a 3-1 score line, while Nigeria struggled a bit to beat Tanzania 2-1.

Also Read: AFCON 2025 Diary Day 7: Inside Super Eagles’ Moroccan Kitchen, Jollof Rice & ‘Third World War’ Joke

However, as I wrote in my original preview before the tournament started, Nigeria has scores to settle with Tunisia and I hope that the Eagles will rise up to the occasion on Saturday. When rival teams like these two meet, form is thrown out of the window and grit and determination take over. A draw will probably suit both teams, but the patriotic spirit in me is predicting a 2-1 win for Nigeria. Go, Super Eagles, Go!

Traditional Media Arrive Late As New Media Dominates AFCON Coverage

IN DAY 2 of my diary, I wrote about the absence of some major Nigerian traditional media here at the AFCON as the Super Eagles training was dominated by new media practitioners. Well, the traditional TV network guys are arriving here now ahead of the Super Eagles’ second game. Already, I mentioned African Independent Television (AIT). Also at the media conference was a crew from TV Central (Nigeria) whom I granted an interview, as well as Channels TV’s Austin Okon-Akpan, who came to Fez from his London base. Austin and I had a 10-minute chat for his YouTube channel during which he introduced me as the “Lionel Messi and Ronaldo of Nigerian sports journalism!” Haba! Na only me waka come?!

Mr.ChefNigeria’s Double-Edged AFCON Presence And Akokite Pride

TALKING of new media practitioners, I also met a second Mr.Chef ‘envoy’ today at the media center of Fez Stadium. Dr. Victor Ademola is a freshly minted PhD holder from the University of Lagos but he has been a blogger for seven years. Just like me, he’s here on the bill of Mr.ChefNigeria food seasoning, official sponsors of the Super Eagles.

To my knowledge so far, Mr.ChefNigeria are the only official sponsors with such a comprehensive, double-edged coverage of the Super Eagles here in Fez. It’s a demonstration of their commitment to “supporting national excellence and moments that unite Nigerians,” exactly the words of Kumar Venkataraman, managing director of Sweet Nutrition Limited, makers of Mr.Chef food seasoning, while announcing the partnership with the Nigeria Football Federation.

Ademola and I have more than Mr.Chef badges in common, however. We’re both triple degrees holders from the University of Lagos, Nigeria’s Best University by Far! Great Akokites!

Final Training, Mixed Zone Talks And Tactical Secrecy

THE Super Eagles held their final training session ahead of the game against Tunisia at their traditional Sardienne Sports Complex this evening. Coach Eric Chelle had hinted at the pre-match press conference that he would use the session to finalize his strategy for the match against Tunisia, so it was virtually closed to the media after the first 15 minutes. However, three players – Paul Onuachu, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and goalkeeper Francis Uzoho – were delegated to speak to journalists at the training ground mixed zone.

Also Read: AFCON 2025 Diary Day 6: Short Corner Genius, Chelle’s Reality Check, Super Eagles’ Fez Fight And More!

Meanwhile, Tunisia trained on the practice pitch of the Fez Stadium Complex. As the ‘away team’ in the fixture against ‘home team’ Nigeria, they arrived from their base in Rabat on Thursday evening, following their opening match win against Uganda. My prayer is that they would return to Rabat empty-handed with no point from the fixture against Nigeria.

Chance Encounter With Tunisian Fans At Fez’s Ancient Medinah

GANIYU Yusuf and I ran into some Tunisian fans at the Ancient Medinah market as we headed back to our hotel. Photographer Segun Ogunfeyitimi also stumbled on the scene. The moment the Tunisians learned that we were journalists from Nigeria, they pulled out their national flag and started waving it at us. After some bragging by both sides on the upcoming game between our countries, one of them proposed that a draw was good enough for both countries, and we decided to settle for that compromise.

“Okay, okay, we draw the match,” we all said as we shook hands and went our separate ways. But neither of us was deceived. Deep down, each side wants to win.

A Change Of Look, Missed Jummat And Morocco’s Bitter Cold

I DECIDED to change my look from the usual jeans, shirt, sweater and jacket today, so I dressed in a Nigerian-tailored kaftan that stood me out in the crowd everywhere I went. But under the kaftan, I still had my jeans, shirt and sweater on, as we continue to fight the bitter cold here in Morocco.

Today being a Friday, my plan was to attend the historic University of Al-Qarawiyyin (or Al-Karaouine) Mosque for the Jummat congregational prayer and I wanted to look the part. Unfortunately, Ganiyu and I missed the prayer because we left the Fez Stadium late. By the time we arrived at Ancient Medinah, the prayers had been concluded.

VAR Controversies Dominate AFCON 2025 As Heavyweights Clash

ACTION resumed today at the AFCON 2025 as the second round of group fixtures got under way, and it was a day dominated by Video Assistant Referee (VAR) interventions and controversial penalty or no-penalty decisions.

Comoros and Zambia in Group A kicked the day off with a drab goalless draw in Casablanca which did little to help either side’s qualification chances, both having lost their opening matches. It was the first scoreless match of the AFCON and this was followed by another draw, 1-1 between Angola and Zimbabwe, in Group B in Marrakech. Again, both teams only recording their first point of the tournament and facing the risk of elimination.

Also Read: AFCON 2025 Diary Day 5: Fed Govt. Motivates Super Eagles, Tanzania Memories, Chelle’s Calm And Eagles’ Mission In Fez

However, the day sparked into life when the heavyweights in both groups took to the field. First, it was Egypt versus South Africa in Agadir. Mohammed Salah scored from a contentiously-awarded penalty in the 45th minute, and then saw his Egypt side reduced to 10 men in first half added time. South Africa seized on their numerical advantage to pin Egypt back in search of an equalizer the whole of the second half. They thought their chance had come in the 90th minute when an Egyptian player handled the ball on the margins of the 18-yard box. But after a long video review, Burundian referee, Pacifique Ndabihawenimana (the man with a long name) bravely waved away a potential penalty kick for Bafana Bafana, even with South African CAF President Patrice Motsepe watching from the VIP box.

The final match of the day saw host country Morocco and Mali in Group A playing out a 1-1 draw in Rabat. Again, it was a story of two penalties, both given this time after Cameroun referee Abdel Mefire consulted the pitch side monitor on both occasions. Morocco’s Brahim Diaz scored from the spot with the last kick of the first half after another long VAR review of a handball incident in his goal area by a Malian defender. Lassine Sinayoko then equalized for Mali in the 64th minute after he was fouled in the Moroccan area. Sinayoko defied the loud whistles of the home fans at the jam packed Prince Moulay Abdullah Stadium to score.

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By Mumini Alao, in Fez

Photos by Ganiyu Yusuf