After Friday’s loss to Algeria, the Super Eagles will aim to end their training camp in Austria with a victory against Mondher Kebaier’s side
Nigeria lock horns against Tunisia for their second international friendly match in Austria on Tuesday night.
Both countries will use the encounter to intensify preparations for their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures in November as they currently sit at the top of their groups.
Tunisia have a date with Tanzania next month for their next Group J outing while the Super Eagles are scheduled to battle Sierra Leone in Group L.
| Game | Nigeria vs Tunisia |
| Date | Tuesday, October 13 |
| Venue | Jacques Leman Arena |
| Time | 19:30 (WAT) |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
In Nigeria, the game will be shown live on TV.
| Nigeria TV channel | Outside (Nigeria) TV channel |
|---|---|
| SuperSport and AIT | SuperSport |
Squads & Team News
| Position | Nigeria squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Dele Alampasu (FK Ventspils), Matthew Yakubu (SKF Sered), Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam). |
| Defenders | Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes), Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers), Chidozie Awaziem (FC Boavista), William Ekong (Udinese FC), Olaoluwa Aina (Fulham FC), Jamilu Collins (SC Paderborn 07), Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto). |
| Midfielders | Mikel Agu (Vitoria Guimaraes), Frank Onyeka (FC Midtjylland), Oghenekaro Etebo (Galatasary SK), Samson Tijani (TSV Hartberg). |
| Forwards | Ahmed Musa (Al Nassr), Alex Iwobi (Everton FC), Moses Simon (FC Nantes), Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC), Cyriel Dessers (KRC Genk), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City), Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux), Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow). |
Gernot Rohr’s squad was further depleted with the departures of Watford‘s William Troost-Ekong and Bordeaux’s Samuel Kalu to their respective clubs after the 1-0 loss to Algeria on Friday.
Before Friday’s match, the Super Eagles missed the presence of Victor Osimhen who was not allowed to leave Napoli while Leicester City’s Wilfried Ndidi was ruled out due to injury.
The team’s media officer Toyin Ibitoye said there are opportunities for new faces to make a statement at the Jacques Leman Arena.
“Kalu was allowed to leave the camp and return to his club because of the knock he got in the game against Algeria,” Ibitoye said.
“For Troost-Ekong he was permitted to go because he just joined a new club and they have a game on Friday so they want him to train with his team ahead of the game. So with these two players out we will have the chance to see new players for the game.”
Probable XI for Nigeria: Okoye, Balogun, Ajayi, Sanusi, Akpoguma, Agu, Etebo, Iwobi, Chukwueze, Simon, Dessers.
| Position | Tunisia squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Moez Ben Cherifia (Esperance), Bechir Ben Said (US Monastir), Aymen Dahmen (CS Sfaxien). |
| Defenders | Ali Maaloul (Al Ahly), Yassine Meriah (Rizespor), Dylan Bronn (FC Metz), Wajdi Kechrida (Etoile du Sahel), Montassar Talbi (Rizespor), Jasser Khmiri (Vancouver Whitecaps), Mohamed Drager (Olympiacos), Oussama Haddadi (Kasimpasa), Ilies Jelassi (US Monastir). |
| Midfielders | Ayman Ben Mohamed (Le Havre), Ahmed Khalil (Club Africain Tunis), Saad Bguir (Abha Club), Naim Sliti (Al-Ettifaq), Mohamed Ben Amor (Etoile du Sahel), Ferjani Sassi (Zamalek SC), Ellyes Skhiri (Cologne), |
| Forwards | Youssef Msakni (Al-Duhail), Seifeddine Jaziri (Al Mokawloon Al Arab SC), Saif Khaoui (Marseille), Hamza Rafia (Juventus U23), Anis Ben Slimane (Brondby IF), Wahbi Khazri (Saint-Etienne). |
Mondher Kebaier’s men produced a stellar first-team performance in their 3-0 win over Sudan on Friday, where all three goals came in the first 45 minutes.
Sassi is expected to miss Tuesday’s match as the Zamalek midfielder continues his self-quarantine after having direct contact with a Covid-19 patient.
Probable XI for Tunisia: Ben Cherifia, Maaloul, Meriah, Bronn, Kechrida, Ben Mohamed, Slimane, Msakni, Rafia, Khaoui, Khazri.
Match Preview
Tunisia head into Tuesday’s friendly match against Nigeria with a six-game unbeaten run across all competitions and their last defeat dates back to an encounter against Ivory Coast in September 2019.
Nigeria, on the other hand, will hope to return to winning ways after their underwhelming 1-0 loss to Algeria on Friday which was their first loss since they bowed to the same nation at the semi-final stage of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria and Tunisia recently played against each other at the 2019 Afcon in Egypt but the former came out victorious, thanks to Odion Ighalo’s early goal which secured their bronze medals at the Al Salam Stadium.
Tuesday’s encounter will be the 20th meeting between Tunisia and Nigeria. Both teams have recorded six wins each while seven of their previous games ended in draws.
The last friendly match between both countries ended in a 1-1 draw in Tunisia back in 1992.
Despite the absence of some key players, Rohr is expecting his team to step up against the Carthage Eagles.
“We definitely must put up a greater effort against the Tunisians,” the German coach told the media.
“It is an opportunity for some of the players to rise up to the occasion, stake a claim. They are ready to go and I believe we would see a much better game on Tuesday.”
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