WATCH THE VIDEO HERE Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will launch their charge for an eighth U20 Africa Cup of Nations title on Thursday, as they face Tunisia’s Junior Carthage Eagles at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, Soccernet.ng reports. 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.” A clinical finisher, Arierhi was top scorer at WAFU B and opened the scoring in the recent win over Egypt. A direct winger with great close control and an eye for goal, he will be crucial in breaking down Tunisia’s defensive setup. The Germany-based midfielder offers composure, intelligence, and a strong passing range — key against North African teams who love midfield battles. 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: The back four is mostly unchanged from WAFU. Haruna Aliyu’s last-minute exclusion opens the door for Hoffenheim’s Emmanuel Chukwu to partner Bameyi in central defence. In midfield, Auwal ‘Germany’ Ibrahim is likely to start ahead of Israel Ayuma, having impressed with crisp passing in the friendly against Egypt. Oliseh’s form gives him a strong edge over Jojo. Nigeria are outright favourites on paper. They boast more preparation, tournament pedigree, and cohesion. Tunisia, parachuted into the competition at the last minute, could be disjointed and lacking rhythm. However, as is often the case with North African teams, their tactical structure and resilience should not be ignored. Expect Nigeria to dominate possession and apply high pressure early. Tunisia may sit deep and aim for counters. If Zubairu’s side maintain their pressing shape and finish their chances, the Flying Eagles should soar. With a fast, technical frontline and a midfield finally finding its rhythm, the Flying Eagles are in strong position to kick off their AFCON campaign with a bang. Goalkeepers: Ifeanyi Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos); Rufai Abubakar (Mavlon FC); Soliu Ajia Yakub (FK Novi Pazar, Serbia) Defenders: Adamu Maigari (El-Kanemi Warriors); Odinaka Okoro (Sporting Lagos); Daniel Bameyi (Bayelsa United); Emmanuel Chukwu (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany); Chigozie Michael Ihejiofor (Katsina United) Midfielders: Caleb Ochedikwu (NK Uljanik Pula, Croatia); Israel Isaac Ayuma (NK Istra, Croatia); Simon Cletus (Mavlon FC); Sulaiman Alabi Jojo (El-Kanemi Warriors); Auwal Ibrahim (Akwa United); Shafiu Adamu Duguri (Wikki Tourists) Forwards: Precious Benjamin (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany); Ezekiel Anthony Kpangu (Inspire FC); Divine Oliseh (Forster Academy); Clinton Jephta (Enyimba FC); Bidemi Amole (Real Sapphire FC); Tahir Maigana (Wireless FC); Theophilus Mendos Rickson (Niger Tornadoes); Kparobo Nathaniel Arierhi (Lillestrom SK, Norway); Matthew Kingsley (Kings FC); Yushau Armiyau (Katsina United) GROUP A: Egypt, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Tanzania GROUP B: Nigeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Kenya GROUP C: Senegal, Central African Republic, DR Congo, GhanaHead to head: Nigeria hold the upper hand
How they qualified
Get Our Sports News First – Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!
Match Details
What the coach is saying
Stars to watch: Nigeria
Kparobo Arierhi
Clinton Jephta
Precious Benjamin
Divine Oliseh
Who will likely start for Nigeria?
Probable Nigeria XI (4-3-3):
Which team will likely win?
Verdict: Nigeria to edge it with a 2-0 or 3-1 scoreline.
24 FLYING EAGLES AT EGYPT 2025:
2025 U20 AFCON
Nigeria vs Tunisia: Match preview, possible Flying Eagles lineup, stars to watch in 2025 U20 AFCON opener
