{"id":881360,"date":"2025-12-29T01:17:21","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T07:17:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/29\/how-tunisia-nearly-pulled-off-a-stunning-comeback-against-nigeria-ogc-nice-star-explains\/"},"modified":"2025-12-29T01:17:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T07:17:21","slug":"how-tunisia-nearly-pulled-off-a-stunning-comeback-against-nigeria-ogc-nice-star-explains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/29\/how-tunisia-nearly-pulled-off-a-stunning-comeback-against-nigeria-ogc-nice-star-explains\/","title":{"rendered":"How Tunisia nearly pulled off a stunning comeback against Nigeria \u2013 OGC Nice star explains"},"content":{"rendered":"

Soccer <\/p>\n

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\"Soccer<\/p>\n

Ali Abdi in action for OGC Nice. Copyright: xWilliamxCannarellax<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Tunisia came within inches of pulling off one of the most dramatic comebacks of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations<\/a> after falling 3\u20130 behind against Nigeria, Soccernet.ng reports. <\/strong><\/p>\n

OGC Nice defender Ali Abdi<\/a> has revealed what changed late in the game, just 15 minutes to the end of the encounter.<\/p>\n

The Carthage Eagles looked out of the contest after Nigeria struck at key moments\u2014just before half-time and shortly after the restart\u2014to open up a commanding three-goal lead at the Complexe Sportif de F\u00e8s.<\/p>\n

However, Tunisia refused to fold and mounted a fierce late push that left the Super Eagles hanging on until the final whistle.<\/p>\n

\"Soccer
Ali Abdi. Copyright: xGARNIERxETIENNEx<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Soccer OGC Nice star Abdi on Tunisia\u2019s turning point<\/h2>\n

Speaking after the match, Abdi explained exclusively to Soccernet.ng that Tunisia made a conscious decision to fight back once they found themselves three goals down.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIn the last 15 minutes, we said we had to give it our all. We were losing 3\u20130 and couldn\u2019t take any more,\u201d Abdi said to Soccernet,ng.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hadn\u2019t got into the game properly, so we had to show the 25,000 people who came today that we had some pride. After Nigeria\u2019s third goal, we gave everything.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Tunisia\u2019s renewed intensity paid off as they pulled a goal back in the 74th minute before adding a second from the penalty spot late on, turning what looked like a routine Nigeria win into a tense finish.<\/p>\n

\"Soccer
Victor Osimhen celebrates goal during AFCON match between Nigeria and Tunisia on December. (Photo by: ImagoxSegun Ogunfeyitimi)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Abdi pointed to unity and belief as key factors behind Tunisia\u2019s late pressure, even as Nigeria tried to manage the closing stages.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThey scored at very difficult moments \u2014 at the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half,\u201d he said. \u201cBut we didn\u2019t give up. We stayed strong, we stayed together until the end.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Get Our Sports News First \u2013\u00a0<\/b>Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Soccer
Semi Ajayi, Frank Onyeka, Akor Adams of Nigeria and Hannibal Mejbri, Ferjani Sassi of Tunisia during the Africa Cup of Nations AFCON match between Nigeria and Tunisia. Photo by Segun Ogunfeyitimi Copyright: xshengolpixsx<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tunisia nearly completed the comeback when a late chance almost forced an equaliser, but the opportunity narrowly missed the target.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe had a chance to make it 3\u20133. It\u2019s a shame it didn\u2019t go in,\u201d Abdi added. \u201cBut we have to take the positives and work on the negatives. That\u2019s football at the highest level.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Soccer Abdi on Nigeria\u2019s favourites tag<\/h2>\n

The former Paris FC player also acknowledged Nigeria\u2019s status as favourites to win the tournament and admitted that Tunisia\u2019s poor start handed the Super Eagles early control.<\/p>\n

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\u201cNigeria is a great nation, so it\u2019s normal that they are favourites,\u201d Abdi said. \u201cBut we didn\u2019t start the match well, and they gained a lot of confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat doesn\u2019t take anything away from Nigeria\u2019s achievement today,\u201d he said. \u201cWe will have our say in this AFCON, inshallah.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Watch OGC Nice’s Abdi react to Tunisia’s loss to Nigeria:<\/h3>\n
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Nigeria sit atop the Group C standings with six points and have secured a qualification to the next round of the competition. Meanwhile, Tunisia have a point to prove when they face Tanzania in their final group game, should they stand the chance to secure all three points.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"<!--Ayomide Oguntimehin” src=”https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Ayomide-Oguntimehin-pics-150×150.jpg” height=”80″ width=”80″>\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tAyomide Oguntimehin\t\t\t\t<\/a>
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\n\t\t\t\tAyomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and Editor at Soccernet.ng. He has interviewed Super Eagles stars like William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Ademola Lookman, and is known for breaking major transfer stories.<\/p>\n

Ayomide has worked with Sports Brief, Naija News and served as Social Lead Editor at Legit.ng. He has also featured on Goal, TVC News, Sports Mole, and Milan News24. He holds a Master\u2019s degree and is currently pursuing a PhD. Follow Ayomide on X (formerly Twitter): @ayo_oguntimehin\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Read More<\/a>Ayomide Oguntimehin<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Soccer Ali Abdi in action for OGC Nice. Copyright: xWilliamxCannarellax Tunisia came within inches of pulling off one of the most dramatic comebacks of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after falling 3\u20130 behind against Nigeria, Soccernet.ng reports. OGC Nice defender Ali Abdi has revealed what changed late in the game, just 15 minutes to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":881361,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3562,2005,77686],"tags":[8074,77685],"class_list":{"0":"post-881360","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-pulled","8":"category-soccer","9":"category-tunisia","10":"tag-pulled","11":"tag-tunisia"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/881360","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=881360"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/881360\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/881361"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=881360"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=881360"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=881360"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}