Nigeria Secure Afcon Knockout Place Despite Fierce Tunisia Fightback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped Nigeria build a commanding advantage, before the Super Eagles were forced to defend resolutely for a hard-fought victory.
Nigeria survived a dramatic late rally from their opponents to progress to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Morocco.
Jose Peseiro's side seemed to be in complete control in their Group C clash in Fes, holding a three-goal lead with only 17 minutes remaining courtesy of strikes from their attacking trio.
However, a Tunisian defender pulled one back with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, sparking hopes of a turnaround.
The tension escalated when Tunisia were awarded a spot-kick after a VAR review identified a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the dying stages to set up a frantic finale.
Tunisia were inches away from a stunning leveler in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a chance just past the post before Ismael Gharbi guided a bobbling volley wide of the goal frame.
Clinching First Place
This result means that the Super Eagles, champions of the competition on three previous occasions, advance to six points and are guaranteed top spot in Group C with a match still to play.
In the next round, they will meet a best third-place team from either the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, Tunisia stay on 3 points, with the East African teams tied on one point after registering a 1-1 draw in the day's other fixture.
The final group matches will see the group leaders stay in the city to take on the Cranes on the next matchday, while Tunisia return to the capital to face Tanzania.
A Nervy Finish
The Tunisian defender smashed home from the penalty spot to offer his team a glimmer of hope of snatching a draw.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the 2023 tournament, are the second team after the Pharaohs to reach the knockout stage, but coach Eric Chelle and supporters will undoubtedly 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 ruled out for offside before breaking the deadlock right before the interval, precisely placing a header into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman delivery.
The lead was doubled soon in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to thump in a header from a set-piece corner.
The number 9 then set up Lookman for the third goal, before the defender to direct a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the comeback.
The pivotal incident came when a looping cross hit the arm of the full-back, with the official awarding a penalty after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Although Ali Abdi's confident conversion, Tunisia ultimately came up just short of completing a remarkable comeback.
Tunisia's destiny remains in their own hands; a draw against Tunisia will be sufficient to secure progression, and their coach will be eager to avoid a repeat of the 2013 early elimination that led to his departure.
