Tunisia defender Montassar Talbi has made clear the Carthage Eagles’ ambition to finish top of their AFCON group ahead of Saturday’s Group C showdown with Nigeria’s Super Eagles at the Fes Stadium.

The fixture rekindles a familiar continental rivalry, with the two sides meeting at the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since their round-of-16 clash in Garoua in 2021, when Tunisia edged Nigeria 1–0 to knock the Super Eagles out of the tournament.

Talbi, who played the full 90 minutes in that encounter, was asked whether that victory gives Tunisia added confidence heading into the latest meeting. The Lorient defender acknowledged the significance of the past result but stressed that it has little bearing on what lies ahead.

“The last game against Nigeria in Garoua was a very good one, and we won,” Talbi said. “It was tough because we had a lot of players with COVID, but the group really showed we could beat anyone in any circumstances. Tomorrow will be another story, though, because there have been a lot of changes in both teams.”

The 26-year-old was also keen to play down suggestions that Tunisia are favourites, pointing to Nigeria’s strong form and quality. However, he admitted the importance of the contest in the context of the group.

“I don’t think we are the favourites because Nigeria also had a really big first game, and they are doing well,” he added. “It will be a really good match. Maybe it’s like the final of the group, and we want to finish first. It will be a nice fight, and we hope to win.”

Talbi further dismissed claims that Tunisia are only now earning recognition on the continental stage, insisting the team has long commanded respect through consistent performances.

“We have had our respect for a long time,” he said. “We’ve qualified for the last three World Cups and done well at AFCON too. But we believe we can go bigger and do better. We’re taking it step by step, fully focused on the next game.”