The Super Eagles Secure Africa Cup of Nations Knockout Place Despite Late Tunisia Comeback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped Nigeria establish a commanding lead, but the Super Eagles were compelled to defend resolutely for a narrow win.
The three-time champions weathered a stunning 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 in complete control in their Group C encounter in the Moroccan city, enjoying a 3-0 cushion with just a quarter of an hour remaining thanks to goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
However, a Tunisian defender reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, igniting hopes of a recovery.
The drama intensified when the North Africans were awarded a late penalty after a VAR review spotted a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the dying stages to create a nail-biting finale.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a last-gasp leveler in stoppage time, with their skipper heading a chance narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi sent a half-volley past the goal frame.
Clinching Top Spot
This result means that Nigeria, champions of the tournament on three past instances, move to six group points and are guaranteed first place in their pool with a match left to be contested.
For the round of 16, they will face a third-placed team from one of the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, the 2004 champions stay on three points, with the East African teams tied on a single point after registering a 1-1 stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The final pool matches will see the group leaders remain in Fes to play Uganda on the next matchday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to the capital to face Tanzania.
A Nervy Finish
Ali Abdi drilled the ball from 12 yards to give his team a glimmer of hope of snatching a point.
Nigeria, finalists in the 2023 edition, are the next team after Egypt to qualify for the next phase, but their manager and fans will certainly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What seemed set to be a straightforward final quarter transformed into a tense affair.
The prolific striker had a goal ruled out for offside before opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time, expertly guiding a header into the far post from an Ademola Lookman delivery.
The lead was doubled early in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to thump in a header from a Lookman kick.
The number 9 then turned provider Lookman for the third goal, only for the defender to steer a powerful header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the fightback.
The pivotal incident came when a high ball hit the forearm of the full-back, with the official awarding a penalty after reviewing the pitchside screen.
Despite Ali Abdi's confident conversion, the 2004 champions in the end fell short of completing a stirring comeback.
Their fate is still 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 past early elimination that led to his previous resignation.
