Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will launch their charge eighth U20 Africa Cup of Nations title on Thursday, as they face Tunisia’s Junior Carthage Eagles at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, Egypt.
The clash opens Group B and sets the tone for what could be a defining campaign for Aliyu Zubairu’s side.
It’s a fixture steeped in historical significance.
Forty years ago, these two sides clashed in the final, with Nigeria edging it over two legs.
More recently, in 2023, the Flying Eagles thrashed Tunisia 4-0 in the third-place playoff in Egypt. However, history guarantees nothing, and Tunisia will be out to rewrite the narrative.
This edition carries an extra layer of urgency. With heavyweights like defending champions Senegal, hosts Egypt, and four-time winners Ghana all in contention, Nigeria must hit the ground running.
Nigeria have enjoyed a strong recent record over Tunisia at U20 level.
The 4-0 victory in 2023 remains fresh, while the 1985 final triumph lives in the memory of older fans. That year, Nigeria defeated the Tunisians 3-2 on aggregate to claim their second title.
Tunisia, on the other hand, are yet to truly trouble the Flying Eagles on the continental stage. But as past tournaments have shown, North African teams are always tactically disciplined and technically sharp — perfect spoilers if underestimated.
Nigeria topped the WAFU B U20 Championship in Togo last year, with their attacking flair and defensive discipline on full display.
After losing to Burkina Faso in the opening match, the Flying Eagles roared back to life defeating Cote d’Ivoire and Niger to reach the final, where they claimed a 2-1 win over rivals Ghana.
Tunisia, in contrast, did not qualify outright. They finished below Morocco and Egypt and outside of the qualifying places during the battle for the AFCON tickets.
However, the Tunisians were handed a lifeline after original U20 AFCON hosts Cote d’Ivoire withdrew, allowing the Carthage Eagles into the tournament as replacements.
This makes them unpredictable, with little recent tournament form to reference — but with nothing to lose.
Aliyu Zubairu is brimming with cautious optimism after his side secured a morale-boosting 2-1 friendly win over Egypt just days after arriving in Cairo.
“That result has provided a good impetus for us. It gives us much-needed confidence. But we won’t rest on our oars,” he said.
“We will go for the maximum points against the Tunisians and take it one step at a time.”
Stars to watch: Nigeria
Kparobo Arierhi
A clinical finisher, Arierhi was top scorer at WAFU B and opened the scoring in the recent win over Egypt.
Clinton Jephta
A direct winger with great close control and an eye for goal, he will be crucial in breaking down Tunisia’s defensive setup.
Precious Benjamin
The Germany-based midfielder offers composure, intelligence, and a strong passing range — key against North African teams who love midfield battles.
Divine Oliseh
Has come alive in recent weeks with brilliant creativity and confidence. He’s now neck-and-neck with Alabi ‘Jojo’ for the starting attacking midfield role.
Zubairu is a man who trusts in preparation. The former El-Kanemi Warriors coach is stuck with a tried-and-tested 4-3-3 formation and a core of players that delivered in the WAFU B tournament. But he’s also open to tweaking his midfield, where the fiercest competition lies.
Zubairu’s likely XI is built on continuity with a few changes forced by form and injury:
Probable Nigeria XI (4-3-3):
Goalkeeper: Ebenezer Harcourt
Defenders: Adamu Maigari, Daniel Bameyi (captain), Emmanuel Chukwu, Sunday Joseph
Midfielders: Caleb Ochedikwu, Auwal Ibrahim ‘Germany’, Divine Oliseh
Forwards: Clinton Jephta, Kparobo Arierhi, Bidemi Amole.
