Nigeria Secure Afcon Knockout Place Despite Fierce Tunisia Comeback
Ex- African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen helped his team establish a 3-0 lead, but the Super Eagles were forced to hold on for a narrow win.
The three-time champions survived a dramatic late rally from their opponents to progress to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being held in Morocco.
The Super Eagles seemed to be in complete control in their pool encounter in the Moroccan city, holding a 3-0 lead with just 17 minutes left thanks to goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
Yet, Montassar Talbi reduced the deficit with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The tension intensified when the North Africans were awarded a late penalty after a video assistant referee review identified a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the 87th minute to create a frantic conclusion.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a last-gasp leveler in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a chance narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi guided a half-volley wide of the upright.
Securing First Place
This result ensures that the Super Eagles, champions of the competition on 3 past instances, advance to 6 group points and are assured top spot in Group C with a match left to play.
In the next round, they will meet a best third-place team from either Group A, B or F.
Meanwhile, Tunisia stay on three group points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on a single point after registering a 1-1 stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The concluding pool matches will see Nigeria stay in the city to take on Uganda on the next matchday, while Tunisia travel back to the capital to confront Tanzania.
An Anxious Finish
The Tunisian defender drilled the ball from 12 yards to give Tunisia hope of snatching a point.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the previous tournament, become the second nation after the Pharaohs to reach the knockout stage, but their manager and supporters will certainly be feeling relieved.
What seemed set to be a straightforward final quarter morphed into a tense affair.
Victor Osimhen had a goal disallowed for offside before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, precisely placing a header into the far post from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The advantage was extended early in the second half when Wilfred Ndidi climbed above everyone to thump in a header from a Lookman kick.
The number 9 then set up his teammate for the third goal, only for Montassar Talbi to steer a powerful header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the comeback.
The pivotal moment arrived when a looping cross hit the arm of the full-back, with the official pointing to the spot after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Although the defender's successful penalty, the 2004 champions in the end fell short of pulling off a remarkable recovery.
Their fate remains in their own hands; a draw against Tunisia will be sufficient to see them through, and their coach will be eager to avoid a recurrence of the past group-stage exit that led to his departure.
