Semi Ajayi’s Man of the Match performance against Tanzania has set a high bar for the Super Eagles’ defensive unit. While the 31-year-old’s 36th-minute header secured the initial lead, it was his statistical dominance in the air and on the ground that caught the eye of the CAF Technical Study Group.
Ajayi finished the match with a 100% win rate in both ground and aerial duels ($3/3$ for each), essentially serving as a “no-fly zone” for the Tanzanian attackers. His partnership with Calvin Bassey will be under the microscope this Saturday as they face a much more clinical Tunisian side.
While Nigeria fought for their points, Tunisia delivered a statement performance in Rabat, dismantling Uganda 3–1 to claim the top spot in Group C. Nigeria’s analysts will likely focus on these three primary threats ahead of Saturday’s clash:
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Elias Achouri (FC Copenhagen): The undisputed star of Matchday 1. The winger scored twice (40’, 64’) and terrorized the Uganda full-backs with his pace. Bright Osayi-Samuel will have a massive task keeping him quiet.
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Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Frankfurt): The midfield “metronome.” He opened the scoring in the 10th minute and controlled the tempo of the entire game. Wilfred Ndidi will need to disrupt his rhythm early to prevent Tunisia from dominating possession.
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Ali Abdi (OGC Nice): A highly offensive left-back who provided the assist for Achouri’s first goal. His overlapping runs could force Samuel Chukwueze into a deeper defensive role than he’d prefer.
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