The Super Eagles Secure Afcon Last 16 Spot Despite Fierce Tunisia Comeback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped his team build a 3-0 advantage, but the Super Eagles were forced to hold on for a hard-fought victory.
The three-time champions survived a dramatic comeback attempt from their opponents to progress to the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being held in Morocco.
Jose Peseiro's side appeared to be in complete control in their pool encounter in the Moroccan city, holding a three-goal cushion with only a quarter of an hour left courtesy of strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
Yet, a Tunisian defender reduced the deficit with a powerful header from a Manchester United midfielder set-piece, igniting hopes of a recovery.
The tension escalated when Tunisia were given a spot-kick after a video assistant referee review identified a handling offense by the Nigerian defender. Ali Abdi converted in the 87th minute to set up a nail-biting finale.
The Carthage Eagles came agonizingly close from a last-gasp equalizer in stoppage time, with their skipper directing a opportunity narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi guided a bobbling volley wide of the upright.
Securing Top Spot
This result means that the Super Eagles, champions of the tournament on 3 previous occasions, move to six group points and are guaranteed top spot in Group C with a match left to play.
For the round of 16, they will face a third-placed team from either the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, Tunisia stay on three points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on a single point each after registering a one-all stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The final pool fixtures will see the group leaders stay in the city to take on Uganda on the next matchday, while Tunisia return to Rabat to confront the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Finish
The Tunisian defender smashed the ball from the penalty spot to offer Tunisia hope of earning a draw.
Nigeria, runners-up in the 2023 tournament, are the second nation after Egypt to qualify for the knockout stage, but their manager and supporters will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a comfortable final quarter morphed into a tense conclusion.
The prolific striker had a effort ruled out for an infringement before breaking the deadlock right before the interval, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger cross.
The advantage was extended soon in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to thump in a powerful nod from a Lookman kick.
Osimhen then turned provider Lookman for the seemingly decisive goal, only for the defender to steer a powerful header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the comeback.
The key moment came when a looping cross hit the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official awarding a penalty after consulting the pitchside screen.
Although the defender's confident conversion, the 2004 champions in the end came up just short of pulling off a remarkable comeback.
Their fate remains in their own hands; a point against Tunisia will be sufficient to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to prevent a recurrence of the 2013 group-stage exit that led to his departure.
