Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle and captain Wilfred Ndidi have played down distractions and talked up Nigeria’s readiness ahead of Saturday’s AFCON 2025 Group C clash against Tunisia in Fes.

Speaking at Friday’s pre-match press conference, Chelle said the squad had intensified preparations after focusing on recovery, stressing that his players understand the size of the task against a strong Tunisian side. He described the Carthage Eagles as a “great team” and said Nigeria are fully prepared to rise to the challenge.

The Franco-Malian coach also revealed that the Eagles have reviewed areas of concern from their last outing, admitting there were both positives and negatives. While pointing to the goal conceded as a moment to learn from, Chelle praised his team’s response, adding that the players have shown the right mentality and are “very ready” for the contest.

Chelle declined to be drawn into a wider discussion about his long-term project with the national team, insisting the focus remains solely on Saturday’s match. He noted that this was not the time to reveal details that could benefit the opposition, emphasising instead the players’ commitment to the collective plan.

Captain Wilfred Ndidi echoed that focus, dismissing the impact of criticism on social media and insisting the squad’s attention is firmly on the tournament. According to the midfielder, the players know what they want to achieve and are united in their ambition to deliver strong results at AFCON 2025.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s painful loss to Tunisia in Garoua at the 2021 AFCON, Ndidi admitted it still lingers but said it now serves as motivation rather than a burden. He stressed that the current squad is different, adding that the team has spoken about the past and is determined “it doesn’t happen twice”.

Nigeria face the Carthage Eagles in their second Group C fixture at the Complexe Sportif de Fes on Saturday, with kick-off set for 9:00pm Nigerian time.