CAF 2025: Sassi Admits Tunisia’s Costly Errors in Narrow Loss to Nigeria
By Oladejo Tiwatayo
Tunisia captain Ferjani Sassi has openly admitted that avoidable mistakes and a lack of assertiveness cost his side dearly in their 3–2 defeat to Nigeria during the second round of Group C matches at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Carthage Eagles were left with too much ground to recover after conceding three goals before the final quarter-hour, despite a spirited late fightback that briefly threatened to deny the Super Eagles victory.
Nigeria seized control of the contest just before halftime when Victor Osimhen rose above the Tunisian defence to head home the opening goal, capitalising on sustained pressure from the West Africans. The Super Eagles returned from the break with greater urgency and doubled their lead in the 50th minute, with captain Wilfred Ndidi powering in a header from a set piece.
Ademola Lookman then appeared to put the match beyond reach in the 67th minute, finishing clinically after being teed up by Osimhen, as Tunisia struggled to deal with Nigeria’s physical presence and quick transitions.
Faced with a daunting deficit, Tunisia responded with renewed intensity. Montassar Talbi pulled one back in the 74th minute, heading in a free-kick to restore some belief, and Ali Abdi later converted a penalty in the 87th minute following a VAR review to make it 3–2.
Although Tunisia pressed hard in the closing stages and came close to forcing an equaliser, Nigeria managed the final minutes effectively to secure all three points and confirm their place in the knockout phase.
Reflecting on the encounter, Sassi acknowledged that Tunisia had opportunities earlier in the game that were not taken and ultimately proved costly.
“We had moments in the first half where we could have done much better,” Sassi said in an interview with beIN Sports. “Against a team like Nigeria, you cannot afford to waste chances or lose concentration.”
The veteran midfielder revealed that belief never completely faded within the squad, even when trailing by three goals, and that Tunisia felt a comeback was still possible.
“We kept believing until the final whistle,” he said. “Once we scored, we felt the momentum shift, and we were not far from getting an equaliser.”
However, Sassi also pointed to tactical issues, admitting that excessive respect for Nigeria and a deep defensive approach affected Tunisia’s ability to compete effectively.
“We dropped too deep at times and gave Nigeria too much space,” he explained. “That caused us to lose important duels and second balls, and it made our task more difficult.”
Looking ahead, Sassi stressed the importance of learning quickly from the defeat as Tunisia prepare for their decisive final group match against Tanzania.
“We must correct our mistakes and be fully focused on the next game,” he said. “Qualification is still in our hands, and our aim remains to reach the next round.”
The result leaves Tunisia under pressure heading into the final round of Group C fixtures, while Nigeria continue their impressive start to the tournament, having secured early progression to the knockout stage.