The Super Eagles Book Afcon Knockout Place Despite Fierce Carthage Eagles Comeback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star was instrumental in his team build a commanding lead, but the Super Eagles were compelled to hold on for a hard-fought victory.
The three-time champions weathered a dramatic late rally from their opponents to advance 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, enjoying a three-goal lead with just a quarter of an hour remaining thanks to strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
However, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, igniting hopes of a turnaround.
The drama escalated when Tunisia were given a spot-kick after a video assistant referee review identified a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the dying stages to set up a frantic finale.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a last-gasp equalizer in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a opportunity narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi guided a bobbling volley wide of the goal frame.
Clinching Top Spot
The victory ensures that Nigeria, champions of the competition on 3 past instances, advance to six group points and are guaranteed top spot in Group C with a match still to play.
For the round of 16, they will meet a third-placed team from one of Group A, B or F.
Meanwhile, Tunisia remain on 3 points, with the East African teams tied on one point after playing out a one-all stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The concluding pool fixtures will see the group leaders remain in the city to play the Cranes on the next matchday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to Rabat to face Tanzania.
A Nervy Conclusion
The Tunisian defender smashed home from the penalty spot to offer his team hope of earning a draw.
Nigeria, finalists in the previous edition, are the next nation after the Pharaohs to qualify for the next phase, but their manager and fans will certainly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a straightforward final quarter transformed into a nerve-wracking affair.
The prolific striker had a effort disallowed for an infringement before opening the scoring on the stroke of the interval, expertly guiding a header into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman delivery.
The advantage was extended soon in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to thump in a header from a Lookman kick.
Osimhen then turned provider his teammate for the seemingly decisive goal, before the defender to direct a powerful header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the comeback.
The pivotal incident came when a looping cross hit the arm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with referee Boubou Traore awarding a penalty after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Despite Ali Abdi's successful penalty, Tunisia in the end came up just short of completing a remarkable comeback.
Their fate remains in their own hands; a draw against Tunisia will be sufficient to secure progression, and their coach will be eager to prevent a recurrence of the 2013 group-stage exit that resulted in his departure.
