Nigeria Secure Africa Cup of Nations Knockout Place In Spite of Late Tunisia Fightback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in Nigeria establish a commanding advantage, before the Super Eagles were compelled to defend resolutely for a narrow victory.
Nigeria weathered a stunning comeback attempt from their opponents to advance to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Morocco.
Jose Peseiro's side appeared to be in complete control in their pool encounter in Fes, enjoying a 3-0 cushion with just 17 minutes left thanks to strikes from their attacking trio.
However, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a powerful header from a Manchester United midfielder free-kick, igniting hopes of a recovery.
The tension escalated when Tunisia were given a spot-kick after a video assistant referee review identified a handling offense by the Nigerian defender. The left-back converted in the 87th minute to set up a nail-biting finale.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a last-gasp equalizer in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a opportunity narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi guided a half-volley past the upright.
Clinching First Place
This result ensures that Nigeria, winners of the competition on three past instances, move to six points and are assured top spot in Group C with one game still to be contested.
For the round of 16, they will meet a best third-place side from one of Group A, B or F.
Meanwhile, Tunisia stay on three group points, with the East African teams tied on a single point after registering a 1-1 draw earlier on Saturday.
The final pool fixtures will see Nigeria remain in the city to take on Uganda on the next matchday, while the Eagles of Carthage return to Rabat to confront Tanzania.
A Nervy Finish
Ali Abdi smashed home from 12 yards to offer his team a glimmer of hope of earning a draw.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the 2023 tournament, are the next nation after the Pharaohs to qualify for the next phase, but their manager and supporters will certainly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a comfortable last period transformed into a tense conclusion.
Victor Osimhen had a effort ruled out for offside before opening the scoring right before the interval, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger cross.
The advantage was doubled soon in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to power home a powerful nod from a set-piece kick.
Osimhen then set up his teammate for the third goal, before Montassar Talbi to direct a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the fightback.
The pivotal moment came when a looping cross hit the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official pointing to the spot after consulting the VAR monitor.
Although Ali Abdi's confident conversion, the 2004 champions in the end came up just short of pulling off a stirring recovery.
Their fate remains in their own hands; a draw against Tunisia will be sufficient to secure progression, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to prevent a recurrence of the 2013 group-stage exit that resulted in his previous resignation.
