Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi addressed the media on Thursday, on the eve of Nigeria's second group match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations against Tunisia.

Of the 28 players selected by head coach Eric Chelle for the ongoing tournament in Morocco, nine, including Ndidi, were part of the matchday squad that suffered a painful 1–0 defeat to the Eagles of Carthage in the Round of 16 at the 2021 Afcon.

Also involved in that encounter were Zaidu Sanusi, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Francis Uzoho, Semi Ajayi, Chidozie Awaziem, Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi, all of whom are again included in the current squad.

Nigeria, coached at the time by 1994 Afcon winner Augustine Eguavoen, went into the Garoua fixture as clear favourites, having won all three of their group stage matches, only to see their campaign end in disappointment.

Asked whether the defeat to Tunisia in 2019 had been discussed within the group and whether it added extra motivation going into Saturday's match, Ndidi acknowledged the hurt of that loss but stressed that the situation is different now.

"It was a painful loss in 2019. But it gives us more confidence. When we talked about it, the guys were really, really prepared," Ndidi said at the pre-match press conference.

"We don’t want to think about what happened; we just want to face this one because it is definitely a new team, with good players and a good group.

"So yes, we have spoken about it, and we actually talked about it earlier. Hopefully, it is not going to happen twice."

Ndidi has made it clear that the absence of a past Afcon winner in the current squad is not a disadvantage but a sign of transition. 

"It's about growth, a new generation, and we are actually here to set our own standards. We are here to achieve our goals — that’s why we are here."

Nigeria are unbeaten in their last seven Afcon group matches, recording six wins and one draw, with their last group stage defeat coming against Madagascar in 2019.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel