The Super Eagles of Nigeria have stepped up preparations for their crucial Africa Cup of Nations Group C encounter against Tunisia on Saturday by holding a closed-door training session, Soccernet.ng reports.
Nigeria trained in private on Thursday, December 25, 2025, with head coach Eric Chelle keen to fine-tune details away from public view following the Super Eagles’ 2–1 opening victory over Tanzania. Goals from Semi Ajayi and Ademola Lookman handed Nigeria a winning start in Morocco, and a second straight win on Saturday would significantly boost their chances of early qualification for the knockout stages.
The decision to shut out media access points to a meticulous approach from Chelle, whose tactical calls proved decisive on matchday one.
Nigeria’s coaching crew impressed with their game management and structural discipline against Tanzania, and there is an expectation that continuity, rather than experimentation, will define the build-up to the Tunisia clash.
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Super Eagles: Chelle refines a diamond built on chemistry
Much of Nigeria’s private work is understood to centre on perfecting the 4-4-2 diamond system unveiled in the opener.
Chelle paired Victor Osimhen with Akor Adams in attack, flanked by inverted wide players who operated in central areas rather than hugging the touchline.
Osimhen remains the attacking fulcrum, but it is his developing chemistry with Adams that has caught the eye. Against Tanzania, the duo played only their fourth game together yet showed encouraging signs of balance. When one striker occupied defenders, the other searched for space to exploit. In defensive transitions, Adams dropped deep to press, while Osimhen disrupted Tanzania’s shape with intelligent movement.
Both forwards combined for nine shots, with Osimhen denied by VAR (from an Adams assist) and the Sevilla man hitting the woodwork and being frustrated by goalkeeper Zuberi Foba. The partnership is expected to be a constant feature as Nigeria seek to break down organised defences.
Chelle’s selection of Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze initially suggested a traditional wide approach, but heat maps from the match revealed a more nuanced plan.
Both players drifted inside to overload central areas, with Chukwueze particularly influential in the opening half-hour. Lookman’s winning goal came after moving centrally, receiving Alex Iwobi’s pass on the edge of the box before curling into the far corner.
Tunisia, however, present a sterner test. The Carthage Eagles have scored 23 goals in their last ten matches, averaging 2.3 per game, while Nigeria have kept just three clean sheets in their last nine outings. It is a statistic that points to the importance of defensive concentration for the Super Eagles.
Nigeria face a side with a proud AFCON pedigree, though Tunisia’s sole title came in 2004. The Super Eagles, three-time champions in 1980, 1994 and 2013, will be aiming to assert their dominance in Fès.
The build-up continues on Friday, with Chelle and captain Wilfred Ndidi set to address the media at 10:45am at Fès Stadium, followed by official training at 6pm at the Sardienne Complex, where the first 15 minutes will be open to journalists. The match is the second of a Group C double-header, coming after Uganda's clash with Tanzania.
