The Super Eagles Secure Afcon Knockout Spot In Spite of Late Tunisia Fightback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped his team establish a commanding lead, but they were compelled to defend resolutely for a narrow victory.
The three-time champions weathered a stunning comeback attempt from their opponents to advance to the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in the host nation.
The Super Eagles appeared to be cruising in their pool encounter in Fes, holding a three-goal lead with only 17 minutes left courtesy of strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
However, a Tunisian defender pulled one back with a close-range finish from a Manchester United midfielder free-kick, sparking hopes of a turnaround.
The tension escalated when Tunisia were given a late penalty after a video assistant referee check identified a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the 87th minute to create a nail-biting conclusion.
The Carthage Eagles were inches away from a last-gasp equalizer in stoppage time, with their skipper heading a chance just past the post before a substitute sent a half-volley past the upright.
Clinching Top Spot
This result means that the Super Eagles, winners of the competition on 3 past instances, move to 6 group points and are assured first place in Group C with a match still to be contested.
In the next round, they will face a third-placed team from one of Group A, B or F.
In the other match, the 2004 champions stay on three group points, with the East African teams locked on one point after playing out a one-all stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The final pool fixtures will see Nigeria remain in the city to take on Uganda on Tuesday, while the Eagles of Carthage return to the capital to confront the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Finish
Ali Abdi smashed the ball from the penalty spot to offer his team hope of snatching a point.
The Super Eagles, finalists in the previous edition, are the second team after the Pharaohs to qualify for the knockout stage, but their manager and fans will certainly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a straightforward last period transformed into a tense conclusion.
The prolific striker had a goal ruled out for an infringement before opening the scoring right before the interval, precisely placing a glancing effort into the far post from an Ademola Lookman delivery.
The lead was extended early in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to power home a header from a set-piece kick.
The number 9 then set up his teammate for the third goal, before the defender to direct a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the fightback.
The key incident arrived when a looping cross struck the arm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with referee Boubou Traore pointing to the spot after reviewing the pitchside screen.
Despite the defender's successful penalty, the 2004 champions in the end fell short of completing a remarkable recovery.
Tunisia's destiny remains in their control; a draw against Tunisia will be enough to see them through, and their coach will be eager to prevent a recurrence of the 2013 early elimination that led to his previous resignation.
