Tunisia Breaks a 24-Year AFCON Jinx with a Late Strike Against Nigeria
28 December 2025
Match context and result
Ali Abidi's late penalty capped Tunisia's comeback, but Nigeria hung on to win 3-2 in the Africa Cup of Nations group-stage clash on Saturday. The goal represented a rare bright moment for the Tunisian attack and marked their first AFCON penalty goal since 2019, snapping a run of four missed spot-kicks in the continental tournament.
The setback adds a wrinkle to a group that had seen Tunisia open with a 3-1 win over Uganda, while Nigeria defeated Tanzania 2-1 in the opening round.
Historical notes and implications
Historically, the result stands out: Tunisia have not lost a AFCON group-stage game while scoring at least one goal since January 23, 2000, when they fell 4-2 to Nigeria.
The match will be remembered for Ali Abidi's late strike and the broader implication that both teams remain in contention in a tight group as the tournament moves forward.
Ali Abidi's equalizer came late; the match remains a dramatic chapter in a long-running rivalry.
Punchline 1: If suspense were a sport, Tunisia would be world champions—just never the ones lifting the trophy. Punchline 2: Nigeria brought the win; Tunisia brought drama. It’s football’s best soap opera, with more running and fewer commercials.
