Nigeria Secure Africa Cup of Nations Last 16 Place In Spite of Fierce Carthage Eagles Comeback
Former African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in his team build a commanding advantage, before they were compelled to hold on for a hard-fought victory.
Nigeria survived a stunning late rally from their opponents to advance to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Morocco.
The Super Eagles seemed to be in complete control in their pool clash in the Moroccan city, enjoying a 3-0 lead with only a quarter of an hour left courtesy of strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
However, a Tunisian defender reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The drama escalated when the North Africans were awarded a spot-kick after a video assistant referee check identified a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the 87th minute to create a nail-biting conclusion.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a last-gasp equalizer in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a chance just past the post before a substitute guided a bobbling volley past the goal frame.
Clinching First Place
The victory means that the Super Eagles, winners of the competition on 3 past instances, move to six group points and are assured top spot in their pool with one game left 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 stay on three group points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on a single point after playing out a one-all draw earlier on Saturday.
The concluding group fixtures will see Nigeria remain in the city to take on Uganda on the next matchday, while Tunisia return to the capital to face the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Finish
Ali Abdi smashed home from 12 yards to offer Tunisia a glimmer of hope of earning a draw.
Nigeria, finalists in the 2023 edition, become the next team after Egypt to qualify for the next phase, but their manager and supporters will certainly be feeling relieved.
What seemed set to be a comfortable last period morphed into a tense conclusion.
Victor Osimhen had a goal disallowed for an infringement before opening the scoring right before the interval, expertly guiding a header into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman delivery.
The advantage was doubled soon in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to power home a powerful nod from a set-piece corner.
Osimhen then set up Lookman for the seemingly decisive goal, only for the defender to direct a powerful header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the fightback.
The key moment came when a looping cross hit the forearm of the full-back, with the official awarding a penalty after reviewing the pitchside screen.
Despite the defender's successful penalty, the 2004 champions ultimately fell 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 their coach will be eager to avoid a repeat of the past group-stage exit that led to his previous resignation.
