Nigeria Secure Afcon Last 16 Place Despite Fierce Tunisia Fightback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star was instrumental in his team establish a commanding lead, but they were forced to defend resolutely for a hard-fought victory.
The three-time champions survived a stunning late rally from their opponents to advance to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being held in the host nation.
The Super Eagles appeared to be in complete control in their Group C clash in Fes, enjoying a 3-0 lead with only 17 minutes remaining courtesy of strikes from their attacking trio.
However, Montassar Talbi reduced the deficit with a powerful header from a Manchester United midfielder free-kick, sparking hopes of a turnaround.
The drama escalated when the North Africans were awarded a late penalty after a VAR review spotted a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back converted in the dying stages to set up a frantic conclusion.
The Carthage Eagles were inches away from a last-gasp leveler in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a chance just past the post before Ismael Gharbi sent a bobbling volley past the goal frame.
Clinching Top Spot
This result ensures that the Super Eagles, winners of the tournament on three past instances, move to six points and are assured top spot in Group C with a match left to be contested.
For the round of 16, they will face a third-placed team from one of Group A, B or F.
Meanwhile, Tunisia remain on three points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on a single point after registering a one-all stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The concluding pool fixtures will see the group leaders stay in Fes to take on the Cranes on the next matchday, while the Eagles of Carthage return to the capital to face the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Conclusion
Ali Abdi smashed home from the penalty spot to offer Tunisia a glimmer of hope of earning a point.
Nigeria, runners-up in the 2023 edition, become the next team after Egypt to reach the knockout stage, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What seemed set to be a comfortable last period morphed into a tense conclusion.
Victor Osimhen had a effort disallowed for an infringement before opening the scoring on the stroke of the interval, precisely placing a header into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger cross.
The lead was doubled early in the second half when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to power home a header from a set-piece corner.
Osimhen then turned provider his teammate for the seemingly decisive goal, only for the defender to direct a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the fightback.
The pivotal 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 confident conversion, the 2004 champions ultimately came up just short of completing a remarkable recovery.
Their fate remains in their control; a point against Tunisia will be enough to secure progression, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be eager to prevent a repeat of the 2013 group-stage exit that led to his previous resignation.
