FIVE Interesting Things To Know About Nigeria – Tunisia Encounters

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will take on the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia in an international friendly game in Austria on Tuesday.

It is the second of two friendly games lined up for the Eagles by the NFF as part of preparations for next month’s 2021 AFCON qualifiers against Sierra Leone.

The Eagles will hope to bounce back from their defeat to Algeria on Friday when they face Tunisia.

And ahead of Tuesday’s game, Completesports.com takes a look at FIVE Interesting things to know about Nigeria – Tunisia Encounters…..

– Nigeria won first ever meeting against Tunisia in 1961

The first ever clash between  Nigeria and Tunisia was in 1961 in the first-leg second round qualifiers for the 1962 AFCON.

The Nigerian team triumphed 2-1 in their first encounter with the North Africans.

However, Tunisia qualified for the 1962 AFCON after Nigeria walked off in the reverse fixture away.

Nigeria abandoned the return-leg encounter after Tunisia equalized to bring the score to 2-2. With Tunisia’s equaliser, on aggregate Nigeria was ahead 4-3.

Tunisia was thus awarded a 2–0 win, and qualified for the competition by an aggregate score of 3–2.

– Tunisia ended Nigeria’s dream of qualifying for the 1978 FIFA World Cup 

Nigeria, Tunisia and Egypt made it to the final round of the 1978 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. 

The three countries were grouped together in a home and away format with Africa’s sole ticket to the World Cup at stake.

Nigeria kicked off the qualifiers on a positive note as they held Tunisia to a 0-0 draw away.

In their second game Nigeria thrashed Egypt 4-0 in Lagos before losing 3-1 to the Pharaohs in the return-leg.

Despite the defeat to Egypt qualification to the World Cup was still in Nigeria’s hands as they just needed to beat Tunisia in Lagos to qualify.

Unfortunately, an own goal by Godwin Odiye in the 61st minute ended Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for a first World Cup.

After the end of the qualifiers, Tunisia topped the group on five points, Egypt finished second on four points while Nigeria had three points.

– This is the third time both countries will meet in a friendly game 

Tuesday’s game between Nigeria and Tunisia will be the third time both countries will take on each other in a friendly game.

Their first clash in a friendly game was in 1984 in Tunis which saw the North Africans thrash Nigeria 5-0.

In 1992, both countries met again in Tunis for a second friendly game which ended 1-1.

-The last time Tunisia beat Nigeria was in 2004

The last time Nigeria ended on the losing side to Tunisia was at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations hosted by the North African country.

After 120 minutes of football which saw both countries tied at 1-1, Tunisia went on to win 5-3 on penalties.

Since then, both teams have met five times with Nigeria winning two times and drawing three.

Their last encounter was in the third placed game at the 2019 AFCON which was decided by an Odion Ighalo goal.

– Tunisia walked off in the 1978 AFCON 3rd place match vs Nigeria 

Both countries met at the AFCON for the first time in the third place match, at the 1978 edition hosted and won by Ghana.

With the score at 1-1, the match was abandoned after Tunisia walked off in the 42nd minute to protest the officiating. 

Nigeria were awarded a 2-0 win, and Tunisia were banned from the next tournament which was hosted by Nigeria in 1980.

By James Agberebi