The Super Eagles Book Afcon Knockout Place In Spite of Late Tunisia Fightback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped his team establish a commanding advantage, before the Super Eagles were forced to hold on for a hard-fought victory.
The three-time champions weathered a stunning comeback attempt from their opponents to progress to the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being held in Morocco.
The Super Eagles seemed to be cruising in their pool clash in Fes, enjoying a 3-0 cushion with just 17 minutes remaining thanks to strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
Yet, a Tunisian defender pulled one back with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The tension intensified when the North Africans were awarded a late penalty after a VAR review spotted a handling offense by the Nigerian defender. The left-back calmly slotted home in the dying stages to set up a nail-biting finale.
The Carthage Eagles were inches away from a last-gasp equalizer in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a chance just past the post before a substitute sent a bobbling volley wide of the goal frame.
Securing First Place
The victory ensures that the Super Eagles, champions of the tournament on 3 past instances, advance to 6 group points and are assured first place in their pool with one game still to play.
In the next round, they will meet a third-placed side from either the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, Tunisia stay on 3 group points, with the East African teams locked on one point after playing out a 1-1 stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The final group fixtures will see Nigeria remain in Fes to play Uganda on the next matchday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to Rabat to face the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Finish
The Tunisian defender drilled the ball from the penalty spot to give Tunisia a glimmer of hope of snatching a draw.
Nigeria, finalists in the 2023 edition, become the second nation after the Pharaohs to qualify for the knockout stage, but their manager and supporters will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What seemed set to be a straightforward last period morphed into a tense affair.
The prolific striker had a effort disallowed for offside before breaking the deadlock right before half-time, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger delivery.
The advantage was extended soon in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi climbed above everyone to power home a powerful nod from a Lookman kick.
Osimhen then set up his teammate for the seemingly decisive goal, only for the defender to steer a powerful header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the comeback.
The key moment came when a high ball struck the arm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official awarding a penalty after consulting the VAR monitor.
Despite Ali Abdi's confident conversion, the 2004 champions in the end fell short of completing a stirring recovery.
Tunisia's destiny is still in their control; a draw against Tunisia will be sufficient to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be eager to prevent a repeat of the past group-stage exit that resulted in his departure.