Tunisia head coach Sami Trabelsi expressed a mix of disappointment and encouragement following his side’s 3–2 defeat to Nigeria in their Group C clash at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Carthage Eagles endured a difficult start as Nigeria surged into a commanding 3–0 lead, dictating the tempo and punishing early lapses. However, Tunisia showed resilience and strong character in the latter stages, mounting a spirited comeback that turned the contest into a tense finale.
Second-half goals from Montassar Talbi and Ali Abdi reignited Tunisian hopes and forced the Super Eagles onto the back foot, as pressure mounted deep into the closing stages. Nigeria ultimately held on, inspired by Man of the Match Ademola Lookman, who delivered a standout performance with a goal and two assists.
Reflecting on the encounter, Trabelsi admitted the result was painful but highlighted positives from his team’s response.
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“There is bitterness because we believed in a comeback,” Trabelsi said. “In the last 30 minutes, we played at a very high level and created many chances.”
The Tunisian coach also pointed to his side’s ability to compete when they impose their style of play.
“When we keep the ball and play our football, we can compete with any opponent,” he added. “That is the positive we take from this match.”
However, Trabelsi conceded that Tunisia’s slow start proved costly. “We did not start well,” he noted. “We lost too many duels, especially from crosses, and that cost us.”
Tunisia will now turn their attention to a decisive final group match against Tanzania, while Nigeria sit top of Group C with six points from two games.
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