Nigeria Secure Africa Cup of Nations Knockout Spot In Spite of Late Tunisia Fightback
Former African Footballer of the Year the Napoli star was instrumental in Nigeria build a 3-0 lead, but the Super Eagles were compelled to defend resolutely for a narrow win.
Nigeria weathered a dramatic comeback attempt from Tunisia to progress to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being held in Morocco.
Jose Peseiro's side seemed to be cruising in their pool encounter in the Moroccan city, enjoying a 3-0 lead with only 17 minutes left thanks to goals from their attacking trio.
However, a Tunisian defender pulled one back with a powerful header from a Manchester United midfielder free-kick, igniting hopes of a recovery.
The tension intensified when Tunisia were given a late penalty after a video assistant referee check identified a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. Ali Abdi converted in the 87th minute to create a frantic finale.
The Carthage Eagles came agonizingly close from a stunning leveler in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a chance just past the post before Ismael Gharbi sent a bobbling volley past the goal frame.
Clinching First Place
The victory means that Nigeria, winners of the competition on three past instances, advance to 6 points and are assured first place in Group C with one game left to play.
In the next round, they will meet a best third-place side from either the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, Tunisia remain on three group points, with the East African teams tied on a single point each after playing out a 1-1 draw earlier on Saturday.
The concluding pool fixtures will see the group leaders stay in Fes to play the Cranes on Tuesday, while the Eagles of Carthage return to the capital to confront Tanzania.
A Nervy Finish
Ali Abdi drilled the ball from 12 yards to offer Tunisia a glimmer of hope of snatching a point.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the previous tournament, become the second nation after the Pharaohs to reach the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a comfortable last period morphed into a tense affair.
Victor Osimhen had a effort ruled out for offside before opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger cross.
The advantage was doubled early in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to thump in a header from a Lookman kick.
The number 9 then turned provider his teammate for the seemingly decisive goal, before Montassar Talbi to steer a powerful header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the fightback.
The key moment arrived when a looping cross 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, Tunisia ultimately fell short of completing a remarkable recovery.
Their fate is still in their control; a point against Tanzania will be sufficient to secure progression, and their coach will be keen to prevent a recurrence of the 2013 early elimination that resulted in his departure.