‘We are prepared’ - New Super Eagles leader dismisses pressure talk before Tunisia battle

New Super Eagles leader Wilfred Ndidi isn't buying into the pressure narrative ahead of Nigeria’s second match in the AFCON 2025.

As Nigeria prepare to face Tunisia in Saturday's crucial Group C encounter, the Super Eagles' newly appointed captain has a simple message: his team has nothing to fear.

"There is no pressure on us, none at all," Ndidi declared in his pre-match press conference. "We didn't qualify for the World Cup, but we are ready for this tournament."

The former Leicester City midfielder's words carry weight, especially given the context. Nigeria's failure to reach the 2026 World Cup still stings, but Ndidi sees AFCON 2025 as redemption territory rather than a burden to bear.

The Complexe Sportif de Fes will host what could be the defining match of Group C when the two sides meet for the 22nd time across competitions in the late night kick off.

Both nations won their opening fixtures, Nigeria grinding past Tanzania 2-1 while Tunisia dispatched Uganda 3-1, meaning Saturday's victor takes a commanding position in the race for the knockout stages.

But while the mathematics suggest tension, Ndidi's demeanor ahead of the historic clash of the Eagles suggests otherwise.

"This competition is another opportunity to put things right," he continued. "The players are ready, the team is ready, the manager is ready, and everyone around the group is fully prepared."

The World Cup qualifying campaign remains a sore point for Nigerian football. Watching from the sidelines while lesser-ranked nations booked their tickets to the global stage left scars that haven't fully healed.

Ndidi acknowledged the disappointment directly: "What we went through during the World Cup qualifiers was painful, exiting in that way hurt. But now we are focused."

It's that focus that seems to define Nigeria's approach in Morocco. Rather than dwelling on what went wrong, Ndidi and his teammates appear determined to channel that frustration into something productive.

"This tournament gives us a real opportunity to achieve something, and we are determined to make the most of it," he added.

There's a calculated strategy in Ndidi's messaging. By rejecting the pressure tag, he's attempting to shift the psychological burden onto Tunisia, a side with its own expectations and a historically strong AFCON pedigree.

Nigeria arrive as a wounded giant, dangerous precisely because recent failure has stripped away complacency. Tunisia, meanwhile, must contend with a team that believes it has everything to gain and little left to lose.

Whether this mindset translates to performance remains to be seen. But in Ndidi, Nigeria has found a captain willing to stand at the front and declare his team's intentions without flinching.

Saturday evening will reveal whether that boldness was justified.