The Super Eagles Secure Afcon Knockout Spot In Spite of Fierce Tunisia Comeback
Ex- African Footballer of the Year the Napoli star was instrumental in Nigeria build a commanding lead, but they were forced to hold on for a narrow win.
The three-time champions weathered a stunning comeback attempt from their opponents to progress to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Morocco.
Jose Peseiro's side appeared to be cruising in their Group C encounter in the Moroccan city, holding a three-goal lead with only a quarter of an hour left thanks to goals from their attacking trio.
However, a Tunisian defender pulled one back with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, igniting hopes of a turnaround.
The tension intensified when the North Africans were awarded a spot-kick after a video assistant referee review spotted a handball by the Nigerian defender. The left-back converted in the 87th minute to create a nail-biting conclusion.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a last-gasp equalizer in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a opportunity narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi sent a half-volley past the upright.
Clinching First Place
The victory means that Nigeria, champions of the tournament on 3 past instances, advance to six group points and are guaranteed top spot in Group C with a match still to be contested.
In the next round, they will meet a third-placed team from one of the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, the 2004 champions remain on 3 points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on one point each 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 play the Cranes on Tuesday, while Tunisia travel back to Rabat to confront the Taifa Stars.
A Nervy Finish
The Tunisian defender drilled the ball from the penalty spot to offer Tunisia hope of snatching a draw.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the previous tournament, become the next team after the Pharaohs to reach the knockout stage, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will undoubtedly 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 offside before opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the far post from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The advantage was doubled early in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi climbed above everyone 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 powerful header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the fightback.
The key moment arrived when a high ball hit the arm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official pointing to the spot after consulting the pitchside screen.
Despite the defender's confident conversion, Tunisia in the end fell short of pulling off a remarkable recovery.
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 recurrence of the past group-stage exit that resulted in his previous resignation.
