Nigeria Secure Africa Cup of Nations Knockout Spot Despite Late Tunisia Fightback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in Nigeria build a commanding advantage, but the Super Eagles were compelled to defend resolutely for a narrow win.
Nigeria weathered a stunning late rally from Tunisia to advance to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being held in the host nation.
The Super Eagles seemed to be cruising in their pool clash in Fes, holding a three-goal cushion with only a quarter of an hour left thanks to strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
However, a Tunisian defender pulled one back with a powerful header from a Manchester United midfielder set-piece, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The tension escalated when the North Africans were given a late penalty after a VAR review identified a handball by the Nigerian defender. The left-back converted in the 87th minute to create a nail-biting conclusion.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a stunning equalizer in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a chance narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi guided a bobbling volley wide of the upright.
Securing Top Spot
The victory ensures that the Super Eagles, champions of the competition on 3 past instances, move to 6 group points and are guaranteed top spot in their pool with a match left to play.
In the next round, they will face a best third-place side from one of the other preliminary groups.
Meanwhile, Tunisia stay on 3 points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on one point after playing out a 1-1 draw earlier on Saturday.
The final pool fixtures will see Nigeria remain in the city to play Uganda on the next matchday, while the Eagles of Carthage return to Rabat to confront Tanzania.
An Anxious Finish
Ali Abdi smashed home from the penalty spot to give Tunisia a glimmer of hope of earning a point.
Nigeria, finalists in the previous tournament, become the next team after the Pharaohs to qualify for the knockout stage, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a straightforward final quarter morphed into a tense conclusion.
The prolific striker had a effort ruled out for offside before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of the interval, expertly guiding a header into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger cross.
The advantage was doubled early in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to power home a powerful nod from a Lookman kick.
The number 9 then turned provider Lookman for the seemingly decisive goal, only for the defender to steer a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the comeback.
The key moment came when a high ball hit the arm of the full-back, with the official awarding a penalty after consulting the pitchside screen.
Although the defender's successful penalty, the 2004 champions in the end came up just short of pulling off a remarkable recovery.
Their fate is still in their own hands; a draw against Tanzania will be sufficient to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be eager to avoid a repeat of the 2013 early elimination that resulted in his previous resignation.
