AFCON: History favours Eguavoen as Eagles face Tunisia

Umar Sadiq celebrating his goal against Guinea-Bissau

Nigeria’s Super Eagles under Austin Eguavoen stand a chance of advancing in the ongoing 33rd Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as they face the Carthage of Tunisia in a round of 16 fixture if the 2006 episode is anything to go by.

The game which is billed for the Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua, at 8:00pm will be the 21st time Nigeria and Tunisia will clash at senior level with both countries sharing six wins and eight draws each.

If the tradition holds sway, the fall of Tunisia tonight is a predictable with Eguavoen again as the man to face them in this knockout game.

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At the 2006 edition staged in Egypt, Eguavoen coached Nigeria to win their first three group games against Ghana 1-0, Zimbabwe 2-0 and Senegal 2-1 to top group D, while stopped Tunisia in the quarter-final via penalties after a 1-1 draw at regulation time.

At the Port Said Stadium, on February 4, 2006, Obinna Nsofor had scored for Nigeria before Karim Haggui levelled for the North Africans before the Super Eagles triumphed 6-5 via penalties.

This time, Eguavoen has again revisited the group stage feat to top group D of the 2021 AFCON also with nine points, and only waiting for Tunisia to reenact the AFCON 2006 wonder.

Meanwhile, Eguavoen says he is wary of the pedigree of the Carthage Eagles and wouldn’t take chances tonight.

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“I expect a very tough game against the Tunisians. Our group will not be lulled into any sense of superiority over any team here until we do the business on the field. Tunisia is a big name in African football and we must acknowledge that, despite the manner in which they reached this stage.

“We have watched some of their games and from what we know of them in the distant past and in lucid memory, they are never a team to take for granted,” the 1994 AFCON winner told NFF TV.