Nigeria Book Afcon Knockout Place In Spite of Fierce Tunisia Comeback
Former African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in his team establish a commanding advantage, but they were forced to defend resolutely for a hard-fought win.
The three-time champions weathered a dramatic comeback attempt from Tunisia to progress to the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in the host nation.
Jose Peseiro's side appeared to be in complete control in their pool clash in Fes, holding a 3-0 lead with just 17 minutes left thanks to goals from their attacking trio.
Yet, Montassar Talbi reduced the deficit with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The tension intensified when Tunisia were given 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 create a nail-biting finale.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a last-gasp leveler in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a chance just past the post before Ismael Gharbi guided a bobbling volley wide of the upright.
Clinching Top Spot
The victory means that the Super Eagles, champions of the competition on three past instances, move to 6 points and are assured top spot in their pool with a match left to play.
In the next round, they will meet a third-placed team from either Group A, B or F.
Meanwhile, the 2004 champions remain on three points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on a single point each after playing out a 1-1 draw in the day's other fixture.
The concluding group fixtures will see Nigeria remain in Fes to take on the Cranes on Tuesday, while Tunisia travel back to the capital to face the Taifa Stars.
A Nervy Conclusion
Ali Abdi smashed the ball from 12 yards to give his team a glimmer of hope of earning a draw.
Nigeria, finalists in the previous edition, become the next nation after the Pharaohs to reach the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will certainly be feeling relieved.
What seemed set to be a comfortable last period morphed into a tense affair.
The prolific striker had a goal ruled out for offside before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, precisely placing a header into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman delivery.
The lead was doubled early in the second half when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to power home a header from a set-piece corner.
The number 9 then turned provider Lookman for the third goal, only for Montassar Talbi to direct a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the comeback.
The key moment came when a looping cross hit the forearm of the full-back, with referee Boubou Traore awarding a penalty after consulting the pitchside screen.
Although Ali Abdi's confident conversion, the 2004 champions ultimately came up just short of pulling off a stirring comeback.
Their fate remains in their control; a point against Tunisia will be enough to see them through, and their coach will be keen to avoid a recurrence of the past early elimination that resulted in his departure.
