Backline Brilliance: Tunisia's AFCON Shock as Nigeria Edges It 3-2

Match Day Shocks and Backline Brilliance

In a Group C Africa Cup of Nations 2025 clash in Morocco, Tunisia fell 3-2 to Nigeria, despite a historic scoring double from the Tunisian backline. Two Tunisian defenders, Montassar Talbi and Ali Al Abdi, found the net, marking the first time defenders have scored for Tunisia in the same tournament match. Ali Al Abdi also achieved a personal landmark as the first player from Nice to score in AFCON since 2012. He converted a late penalty in the 87th minute, becoming the first Tunisian to convert a penalty in AFCON since 2019 and ending a run of four missed spot-kicks by Tunisia in the tournament. The defeat leaves Tunisia on 3 points, second in Group C, three points behind Nigeria.

Penalty Milestone and Group Standings

Al Abdi's late penalty brought Tunisia closer, but Nigeria's win keeps them top of the group. The result adds a dramatic twist to the group stage as the Carthage Eagles seek a rebound in their remaining matches.

Punchline 1: If defense is the new offense, Tunisia might need to file a tax return for all the goals their backline scored.

Punchline 2: In AFCON, even the backline can steal the show—talk about a plot twist where the defenders do the scoring and the forwards do the nodding off in the stands.