The Super Eagles Secure Afcon Last 16 Spot In Spite of Late Carthage Eagles Fightback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star was instrumental in Nigeria establish a commanding lead, but the Super Eagles were forced to defend resolutely for a narrow victory.
The three-time champions survived a stunning late rally from their opponents to advance to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being held in the host nation.
The Super Eagles appeared to be in complete control in their Group C clash in Fes, holding a 3-0 lead with just a quarter of an hour remaining courtesy of strikes from their attacking trio.
Yet, Montassar Talbi reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The drama intensified when Tunisia were given a late penalty after a video assistant referee review identified a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the dying stages to set up a frantic conclusion.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a stunning leveler in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a chance just past the post before a substitute sent a half-volley past the upright.
Clinching Top Spot
The victory ensures that the Super Eagles, champions of the competition on 3 past instances, advance to 6 points and are assured top spot in Group C with a match left to play.
In the next round, they will face a third-placed team from one of the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, Tunisia stay on 3 points, with the East African teams locked on one point after playing out a one-all draw earlier on Saturday.
The final pool fixtures will see Nigeria remain in Fes to play the Cranes on the next matchday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to Rabat to face the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Finish
Ali Abdi drilled home from the penalty spot to give Tunisia a glimmer of hope of earning a draw.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the previous tournament, become the second team after Egypt to reach the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What seemed set to be a comfortable last period morphed into a nerve-wracking affair.
The prolific striker had a goal ruled out for offside before opening the scoring on the stroke of the interval, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the far post from an Ademola Lookman delivery.
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.
Osimhen then set up his teammate for the third goal, before the defender to direct a powerful header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the comeback.
The pivotal moment arrived when a looping cross struck the arm of the full-back, with the official awarding a penalty after consulting the pitchside screen.
Despite the defender's confident conversion, Tunisia ultimately fell short of completing a stirring recovery.
Tunisia's destiny is still in their own hands; a point against Tunisia will be enough to see them through, and their coach will be eager to prevent a recurrence of the past group-stage exit that led to his previous resignation.
