Nigeria Secure Afcon Knockout Spot Despite Fierce Tunisia Comeback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped Nigeria establish a 3-0 lead, before they were compelled to hold on for a hard-fought win.
Nigeria weathered a stunning late rally from their opponents to advance to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Morocco.
The Super Eagles seemed to be cruising in their pool clash in Fes, holding a three-goal cushion with only a quarter of an hour remaining thanks to strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
However, Montassar Talbi reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Manchester United midfielder free-kick, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The drama escalated when the North Africans were given a spot-kick after a video assistant referee review identified a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the dying stages to set up a nail-biting conclusion.
The Carthage Eagles came agonizingly close from a last-gasp leveler in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a chance narrowly wide before a substitute sent a half-volley past the goal frame.
Clinching Top Spot
This result ensures that the Super Eagles, winners of the competition on 3 previous occasions, move to 6 group points and are assured first place in Group C with one game left to be contested.
For the round of 16, they will face a best third-place side from one of the other preliminary groups.
Meanwhile, the 2004 champions remain on three group points, with the East African teams tied on a single point after registering a 1-1 draw in the day's other fixture.
The final group fixtures will see Nigeria stay in Fes to play Uganda on the next matchday, while Tunisia return to Rabat to face Tanzania.
A Nervy Conclusion
The Tunisian defender drilled home from 12 yards to offer his team hope of earning a point.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the 2023 tournament, become the second nation after the Pharaohs to qualify for the knockout stage, but their manager and supporters will certainly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a comfortable last period morphed into a tense affair.
The prolific striker had a goal ruled out for offside before opening the scoring on the stroke of the interval, expertly guiding a header into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman delivery.
The advantage was extended soon in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to thump in a header from a set-piece kick.
The number 9 then set up Lookman for the third goal, only for the defender to direct a powerful header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the fightback.
The pivotal incident came when a looping cross struck the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official pointing to the spot after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Despite Ali Abdi's confident conversion, the 2004 champions in the end fell short of completing a stirring comeback.
Their fate is still in their own hands; a draw against Tunisia will be enough to secure progression, and their coach will be keen to prevent a repeat of the 2013 early elimination that led to his departure.
