Africa Cup of Nations: Bronze Medal Clash Has More Than Meets the Eye

Nigeria vs Tunisia

If the truth be known SBOBET fans, both Tunisia and Nigeria would rather be on their way home now.

Both have missed out on a place in the Africa Cup of Nations final and the chance to secure third place in this playoff encounter is of scant consolation.

Indeed, it may be the final international encounter for one or two key figures.

However, that could be even more of an incentive for both to finish the tournament with a flourish – especially with a bronze medal up for grabs and, in Nigeria’s case, a possible Golden Boot.

Talking Points

Africa Cup of Nations highlights have been plenty so far and this is the chance for one last hurrah.

On the face of it, Tunisia are an obvious side to back. They are 20 places above Nigeria in the FIFA world rankings, sitting 25th, and had a slightly less agonising form of AFCON heartbreak on Sunday.

Nigeria, though, are the slenderest of favourites for a match in which form is likely to depart from the nearest window with options galore with the Africa Cup of Nations betting odds.

Coach Alain Giresse, a former Footballer of the Year in France, had led Tunisia to just one defeat in 10 before their semi-final loss, including a win in Croatia during the build-up to this tournament.

He could freshen up his side following their extra-time endeavours against Senegal.

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Defensive midfielder Ferjani Sassi is an option, as is youthful prospect 18-year-old Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Marc Lamti.

Giresse is likely to make changes to his team in a bid to give some of the fringe players a run-out. Wahbi Khazri and Taha Yassine Khenissi could be given a rest with Anice Badri and Naim Sliti set to feature from the start.

Tunisia are resolutely hard to break down and all of the goals they have conceded in Egypt have arrived in the final third of matches, with both of the goals scored against them in the knockout stages coming after the 90th minute.

For Nigeria, coach Gernot Rohr remains pragmatic and, after their bid to become champions ended, he praised his squad, the youngest at the 2018 World Cup, and said their tactical and technical quality will improve with age.

He will know defensively they have to tighten up. The Super Eagles have not won by more than a single goal in any of their matches and, having kept four straight clean sheets in the build-up to their surprise group stage loss to Madagascar, have now conceded in four of their last five games.

One man who will almost certainly start this third-fourth place play-off is Odion Ighalo whose position as tournament top scorer is one he will want to keep.

The Shanghai Shenhua striker leads the way with four goals so far but is just one ahead of Riyad Mahrez, Algeria teammate Adam Ounas and Senegal’s Sadio Mane, all of whom are expected to take part in Friday’s final.

A playoff at the Al-Salam Stadium in Cairo with more at stake than you may first realise.

Can Gernot Rohr's men defeat Tunisia in the Africa Cup of Nations playoff? — Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr giving instructions to his players from the touchline

History

Nigeria have just one win in five previous matches against Tunisia with both teams playing out four draws.

Tunisia’s win more than 15 years ago (in a semi-final penalty shoot-out) is their sole AFCON victory in this fixture. Nigeria have won three of the six matches between these teams in the tournament, beginning with a 2-1 win in November 1961.

There was an extraordinary conclusion when these two last met to decide third place. With the scores level at 1-1, Tunisia walked off the pitch after 42 minutes in Accra in March 1978, leading officials to award Nigeria a 2-0 win and ban their AWOL opponents from the next tournament.

Tunisia have had marginally the better of the 17 matches they have played against Nigeria, with six wins compared to their rivals’ five. The all-time figures would be level had Tunisia not won a friendly 5-0 in Tunis in 1984.

Their most recent meeting was in World Cup qualifying in 2009 and finished 2-2 when Oussama Darragi netted a late equaliser for Tunisia.