The Super Eagles Book Africa Cup of Nations Last 16 Spot In Spite of Fierce Tunisia Fightback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star helped his team build a commanding advantage, before they were forced to hold on for a narrow victory.
Nigeria weathered a dramatic comeback attempt from their opponents to progress to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being held in the host nation.
The Super Eagles seemed to be cruising in their Group C clash in the Moroccan city, holding a three-goal lead with just a quarter of an hour left thanks to goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
Yet, 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 Tunisia were awarded a late penalty after a video assistant referee review spotted a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the dying stages to create a nail-biting conclusion.
Tunisia were inches away from a last-gasp leveler in added time, with their skipper directing a opportunity just past the post before a substitute sent a half-volley past the goal frame.
Clinching First Place
The victory means that the Super Eagles, winners of the competition on three previous occasions, advance to six points and are assured first place in Group C with a match left to be contested.
For the round of 16, they will face a best third-place side from either the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, the 2004 champions stay on 3 points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on a single 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 the Eagles of Carthage return to Rabat to face the Taifa Stars.
A Nervy Conclusion
The Tunisian defender smashed the ball from 12 yards to give his team a glimmer of hope of earning a point.
The Super Eagles, finalists in the 2023 tournament, become the second nation after the Pharaohs to qualify for the knockout stage, but their manager and supporters will certainly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a straightforward final quarter transformed into a nerve-wracking conclusion.
The prolific striker had a effort ruled out for an infringement before opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time, precisely placing a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman delivery.
The advantage was doubled early in the second half when Wilfred Ndidi climbed above everyone to thump in a powerful nod from a set-piece kick.
Osimhen then set up his teammate for the third goal, only for the defender to steer a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the fightback.
The pivotal moment arrived when a high ball struck the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official pointing to the spot after consulting the VAR monitor.
Despite the defender's confident conversion, Tunisia ultimately came up just short of pulling off a stirring recovery.
Their fate remains in their control; a draw against Tunisia will be enough to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be eager to avoid a repeat of the past group-stage exit that led to his previous resignation.
