Nigeria captain Wilfred Ndidi says the Super Eagles’ painful exit to Tunisia at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations has become a source of motivation as the two sides meet again on Saturday night in Morocco.
Despite topping their group in Cameroon four years ago, Nigeria were eliminated in the round of 16 by the Carthage Eagles. Youssef Msakni’s second-half strike sealed the win, while Alex Iwobi was sent off in a tense and gruelling encounter.
Ndidi, the former Leicester City midfielder, says that disappointment is now driving Nigeria as they prepare for a top-of-the-table clash in Fez.
“It was a painful loss in 2019 but it gives us more confidence,” Ndidi told reporters. “You know, when we talked about it, the guys were really prepared for it because we don’t want to repeat what happened. We just want to face this one because it is a new team with good players, and hopefully it’s not going to happen to us.”
Nigeria’s most recent AFCON triumph came in South Africa in 2013, when Sunday Mba’s solitary goal against Burkina Faso secured their third continental title. Eric Chelle’s side are now targeting a fourth African crown after narrowly missing out in Côte d’Ivoire 2023.
With none of the current squad having lifted the trophy before, Ndidi remains confident that the Super Eagles can rise to the occasion and set a new standard for Nigerian football.
“As a team, we want to write our own history and make the nation proud,” Ndidi added, underlining the hunger and ambition in a squad eager to achieve continental glory.
