AFCON 2025: 2021 defeat to Tunisia gives us more motivation – Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi 

Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has revealed that Nigeria’s painful elimination to Tunisia at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations is serving as a powerful source of motivation ahead of their 2025 group-stage rematch.

Ndidi recalled how a dominant Nigerian side, having won all three group games in 2021, was stunned 1-0 by Youssef Msakni’s goal in the Round of 16. Speaking ahead of Saturday's clash (20:00 GMT), the midfielder made it clear that the team is driven by the memory of that upset.

“It was a painful loss in 2021,” Ndidi admitted. “We don’t want to think about what happened; we just want to face this one because it is a new team, [with a] good players group.”

However, he emphasised that the past defeat has become a focal point for the squad’s determination. “It gives us more confidence and more motivation,” Ndidi stated. “We talk about it, and it’s not going to happen twice, hopefully.”

Both teams head into the high-stakes encounter with winning momentum. Nigeria opened their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Tanzania, while Tunisia secured a 3-1 win against Uganda, setting the stage for a tense battle where Nigeria seeks to channel past pain into present triumph.