Nigeria, a traditional powerhouse and last edition's runner-up, boasts a dazzling squad. With a forward line spearheaded by Osimhen and Lookman, they are considered one of the favourites. Their form is strong, with 6 wins, 3 draws, and only 1 loss in their last 10 matches. They demonstrated their attacking strength by coming from behind to defeat Tanzania 2-1 in their Africa Cup of Nations opener. However, Nigeria's defence is a concern, having kept only 3 clean sheets in 10 World Cup qualifiers, indicating a lack of stability. Tunisia, the 2004 champions, are known for their solid and resilient style of play. They showcased impressive defence in the World Cup qualifiers, becoming the first team in history to qualify without conceding a goal. Their backline is composed of several excellent interceptors from European leagues. They defeated Uganda 3-1 in their opening match, though the process wasn't entirely smooth. Their attack sometimes relies too heavily on the individual brilliance of key players like Khazri, raising questions about their ability to break down defensive setups. Nigeria's advantage lies in their individual attacking talent and dynamism, with Osimhen's hold-up play and Lookman's breakthroughs being key. However, their Achilles heel is their unreliable defence, as evidenced by the frequent goals conceded in World Cup qualifiers. In contrast, Tunisia's biggest asset is their structured, robust defence and strong tactical discipline. Their record-breaking zero-goal conceded performance in the qualifiers proves their defence is not a fluke but the result of mature tactical execution. In crucial knockout matches, teams that prioritize not losing often demonstrate greater resilience. The long-standing rivalry between the two teams has been dramatic, with Tunisia holding a near-even record of 7 wins, 8 draws, and 6 losses in their last 21 encounters. Furthermore, their frequent encounters in the Africa Cup of Nations have often gone to extra time and penalty shootouts (such as in 2004 and 2006), strongly suggesting the teams are evenly matched. Any slight factor could alter the result, but it's hard to imagine one side completely overpowering the other. For Nigeria, breaking through will be difficult; for Tunisia, a defensive approach with counter-attacks is ideal. Overall, Nigeria's attacking sharpness may diminish against a tight defence, while Tunisia is entirely capable of remaining undefeated away from home, leveraging their experience and defensive organisation. Score Prediction: 1-1, 0-1