Nigeria will not lack motivation when they face Tunisia on Saturday at the Africa Cup of Nations, according to Super Eagles midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Soccernet.ng reports.
Dele-Bashiru is convinced that the scale and significance of the tournament alone is enough to drive the three-time African champions towards victory.
The Lazio midfielder was speaking ahead of Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 group-stage fixture against the Carthage Eagles, a match that could see the Super Eagles secure qualification to the knockout rounds with a game to spare.
Nigeria go into the encounter buoyed by a 2-1 victory over Tanzania in their tournament opener, while Tunisia began their campaign in emphatic fashion with a 3-1 win over Uganda. Saturday’s contest is therefore shaping up to be one of the defining matches of the group.
For Dele-Bashiru, who made his tournament debut off the bench against Tanzania, the motivation is clear and immediate.
“I think just being in the Afcon by itself is enough motivation for us to go and try and get the victory tomorrow,” the former Hatayspor star said.
“Of course, it's an important match for us if you want to finish top of the group, so we'll do everything we can to get the job done.”
The former Manchester City academy graduate is one of several midfield options available to head coach Eric Chelle, who altered his tactical shape midway through the Tanzania match. Chelle switched from a 4-4-2 diamond to a 4-3-3, a change that allowed Dele-Bashiru to come on as a second-half substitute and add energy and control in midfield.
That tactical adjustment could be significant ahead of the Tunisia clash, with the Malian tactician expected to consider starting in a 4-3-3; a system that could see Dele-Bashiru handed a place in the starting XI.
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Super Eagles vs Tunisia: Revenge, qualification and focus
Beyond the immediate points at stake, Nigeria have added incentive. Victory over Tunisia would not only confirm progress to the knockout stages but also offer a measure of revenge after the Super Eagles suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to the Carthage Eagles in the Round of 16 at the 2021 AFCON.
Dele-Bashiru acknowledged the importance of the fixture, stressing that every group-stage match plays a decisive role in determining who advances.
He is also keen to test himself against a Tunisian side that impressed in their opening game and are regarded as one of the tournament’s most disciplined outfits.
However, the midfielder insisted that success at AFCON depends as much on mentality as it does on talent.
“I've said before that it's important that we take each game the same way with the same focus, with the same respect for the opposition, and train hard, follow what the coach wants from us, which will help us prepare for the matches,” Dele-Bashiru added.
The match, scheduled to be played at the Fès Stadium, kicks off at 9pm Nigerian time.
