Nigeria Book Afcon Knockout Place In Spite of Late Tunisia Comeback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped Nigeria establish a 3-0 advantage, before the Super Eagles were forced to defend resolutely for a narrow victory.
Nigeria weathered a dramatic late rally from their opponents to advance to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in the host nation.
The Super Eagles seemed to be in complete control in their Group C clash in the Moroccan city, enjoying a three-goal lead with just a quarter of an hour remaining courtesy of goals from their attacking trio.
However, a Tunisian defender reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, sparking hopes of a turnaround.
The drama escalated when the North Africans were awarded a spot-kick after a video assistant referee check spotted a handling offense by the Nigerian defender. The left-back calmly slotted home in the dying stages to set up a nail-biting finale.
The Carthage Eagles were inches away from a stunning equalizer in added time, with their skipper directing a opportunity just past the post before Ismael Gharbi guided a bobbling volley past the upright.
Clinching First Place
The victory ensures that Nigeria, winners of the competition on three previous occasions, advance to six group points and are assured first place in Group C with a match left to play.
In the next round, they will meet a third-placed side from either Group A, B or F.
Meanwhile, Tunisia stay on 3 group points, with the East African teams locked on one point after playing out a one-all stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The concluding group matches will see the group leaders remain in Fes to take on the Cranes on Tuesday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to Rabat to confront the Taifa Stars.
A Nervy Finish
The Tunisian defender smashed home from 12 yards to offer his team a glimmer of hope of earning a point.
Nigeria, runners-up in the previous tournament, become the next team after the Pharaohs to qualify for the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will certainly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a straightforward last period transformed into a nerve-wracking conclusion.
The prolific striker had a goal disallowed for an infringement before opening the scoring right before the interval, precisely placing a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger cross.
The advantage was extended early in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to thump in a header from a set-piece kick.
The number 9 then turned provider Lookman for the third goal, before Montassar Talbi to direct a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the comeback.
The key incident came when a looping cross hit the arm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official awarding a penalty after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Although the defender's successful penalty, Tunisia in the end came up just short of completing a stirring recovery.
Their fate remains in their own hands; a draw against Tunisia will be sufficient to secure progression, and their coach will be eager to prevent a recurrence of the 2013 early elimination that resulted in his previous resignation.
