Nigeria Book Afcon Knockout Place In Spite of Fierce Tunisia Comeback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in his team build a commanding lead, before the Super Eagles were compelled to hold on for a hard-fought victory.
The three-time champions weathered a stunning comeback attempt from their opponents to progress to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being held in Morocco.
The Super Eagles appeared to be in complete control in their Group C encounter in Fes, enjoying a three-goal cushion with only a quarter of an hour remaining thanks to strikes from their attacking trio.
However, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a powerful header from a Manchester United midfielder set-piece, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The drama intensified when the North Africans were awarded a spot-kick after a video assistant referee check spotted a handball by the Nigerian defender. The left-back calmly slotted home in the dying stages to set up a frantic finale.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a stunning leveler in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a opportunity narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi sent a half-volley wide of the upright.
Clinching Top Spot
The victory means that the Super Eagles, champions of the competition on three previous occasions, advance to 6 points and are guaranteed first place in Group C with a match still to be contested.
In the next round, they will meet a third-placed side from one of Group A, B or F.
In the other match, Tunisia stay on three points, with the East African teams locked on a single point each after registering a one-all stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The concluding group fixtures will see Nigeria remain in the city to take on Uganda on the next matchday, while Tunisia return to Rabat to confront Tanzania.
An Anxious Finish
Ali Abdi drilled the ball from 12 yards to offer Tunisia a glimmer of hope of earning a draw.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the 2023 edition, become the next team after the Pharaohs to qualify for the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What seemed set to be a comfortable final quarter transformed into a nerve-wracking affair.
Victor Osimhen had a goal ruled out for an infringement before opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time, precisely placing a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The lead was doubled soon in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi climbed above everyone to power home a header from a set-piece corner.
The number 9 then set up Lookman for the third goal, before the defender to direct a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the fightback.
The pivotal incident arrived when a high ball struck the forearm of the full-back, with referee Boubou Traore awarding a penalty after consulting the pitchside screen.
Although Ali Abdi's successful penalty, Tunisia in the end came up just short of pulling off a stirring recovery.
Their fate remains in their control; a point against Tanzania will be enough to secure progression, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be eager to prevent a repeat of the past early elimination that led to his departure.
