The Super Eagles Secure Africa Cup of Nations Knockout Spot Despite Fierce Tunisia Fightback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in his team build a 3-0 lead, but they were forced to hold on for a narrow win.
The three-time champions weathered a dramatic comeback attempt from their opponents to advance to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being held in Morocco.
The Super Eagles seemed to be cruising in their pool encounter in the Moroccan city, enjoying a three-goal cushion with only a quarter of an hour remaining courtesy of strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
However, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a powerful header from a Manchester United midfielder set-piece, igniting hopes of a turnaround.
The drama intensified when the North Africans were given a spot-kick after a video assistant referee check spotted a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the 87th minute to create a nail-biting conclusion.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a stunning leveler in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a opportunity just past the post before Ismael Gharbi guided a bobbling volley past the goal frame.
Securing First Place
The victory means that the Super Eagles, winners of the competition on 3 previous occasions, move to 6 points and are guaranteed first place in their pool with one game left to play.
For the round of 16, they will meet a third-placed team from either Group A, B or F.
In the other match, Tunisia remain on 3 group points, with the East African teams locked on a single point each after playing out a one-all stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The concluding group fixtures will see the group leaders stay in Fes to play Uganda on Tuesday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to Rabat to confront Tanzania.
An Anxious Conclusion
The Tunisian defender drilled the ball from the penalty spot to give his team hope of earning a draw.
Nigeria, runners-up in the 2023 tournament, become the second nation after the Pharaohs to qualify for the next phase, but their manager and fans will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What seemed set to be a comfortable last period morphed into a tense affair.
The prolific striker had a effort disallowed for an infringement before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, precisely placing a header into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The lead was doubled soon in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to thump in a powerful nod from a set-piece kick.
The number 9 then turned provider Lookman for the third goal, before the defender to direct a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the fightback.
The key moment arrived when a high ball struck the forearm of the full-back, with referee Boubou Traore awarding a penalty after reviewing the pitchside screen.
Despite Ali Abdi's confident conversion, the 2004 champions in the end fell short of pulling off a stirring recovery.
Their fate is still in their control; a point against Tanzania will be sufficient to see them through, and their coach will be keen to prevent a repeat of the past group-stage exit that resulted in his departure.