Nigeria vs Tunisia: Osimhen-Lookman Duo Tasked With Cracking Africa’s Hardest Defence

by Geoffrey Ejiga | by Geoffrey Ejiga

image Nigeria vs Tunisia: Osimhen-Lookman Duo Tasked With Cracking Africa’s Hardest Defence
We should be in for a blockbuster as Nigeria tasks Osimhen and Lookman, two of the last three African Players of the Year, with cracking open Tunisia's rock-solid defence. Osimhen is Nigeria’s highest-goal scorer in 2025, and Lookman has already opened his campaign with a winning goal against Tanzania in round 1. But can the duo secure a victory for the Super Eagles against the Eagles of Carthage? Let’s find out!

Super Eagles Circle Tunisia’s Record-Breaking Defence

Tunisia just became the first nation ever to qualify for the World Cup without conceding a single goal. The Eagles of Carthage played ten games, won nine matches, kept an outstanding ten clean sheets, all while scoring 22 goals themselves. With that kind of solidity at the back, the Nigerian frontline must bring their A-game if they hope to win here and secure a favourable top spot finish.

SportyTrader experts explore the Super Eagle’s true winning chances in our Nigeria vs Tunisia prediction.

The good news for Nigeria is that cracks have already begun to form in Tunisia’s seemingly impenetrable defence. Uganda struck back in the 92nd minute to at least walk away with a consolation goal in their 3-1 beatdown. In the game prior, Botswana also kept Tunisia from a clean sheet in their 2-1 friendly win.

Yet, what’s most significant is the sheer difference in quality between the Super Eagles and the teams Tunisia faced in the WC qualifiers and in their recent games. The Eagles of Carthage kept their historic clean sheet record against Namibia, Liberia, Equatorial Guinea, Malawi, and São Tomé and Príncipe.

In their first competitive game since the WC qualifiers, Tunisia conceded a goal, which is no surprise as the 85th-ranked Uganda is ranked much higher than all five teams in Tunisia's WC qualifier group. Nigeria ranks even higher on FIFA’s list, sitting at 38th and three places higher than Tunisia (41st).

Best Forwards vs Best Defence: Who Wins?

Higher FIFA ranking aside, Nigeria boasts a frontline with some of Africa’s best talents. Starting upfront for Nigeria in the 2025 AFCON are Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Samuel Chukwueze. The former are two of the last three African Player of the Year winners, and the latter had been flying sky-high for Fulham ahead of the tournament.

Besides Morocco and Brazil, Nigeria will be the toughest opponent Tunisia will have faced in 2025. They let up goals to Achraf Hakimi and Eliesse Ben Seghir when they met Morocco in a June friendly, and then one goal to Brazil’s Estevao in their November friendly.

Tunisia now faces a frontline just as sharp, but in a higher-stakes game. Lookman already opened his AFCON 2025 campaign with the match-winner against Tanzania. Meanwhile, Chuwkwueze, who had 5 G/A in five games before the opener, made his mark on Tanzania with six completed dribbles and one big chance created.

Osimhen has yet to open his AFCON 2025 account. But the reigning Turkish golden boot winner has still been Nigeria’s best forward all year, scoring eight WC qualifier goals in seven games. Tunisia's defence has been one of Africa's best over the past year. However, the Super Eagles are a different beast, poised to score and possibly net multiple against the Eagles of Carthage.