Nigeria Secure Afcon Knockout Spot In Spite of Fierce Tunisia Fightback
Ex- African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in Nigeria establish a 3-0 lead, but they were forced to hold on for a hard-fought victory.
The three-time champions survived a dramatic late rally from their opponents to progress to the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Morocco.
The Super Eagles appeared to be cruising in their Group C encounter in the Moroccan city, holding a three-goal lead with only a quarter of an hour left courtesy of goals from their attacking trio.
Yet, a Tunisian defender pulled one back with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, igniting hopes of a turnaround.
The tension intensified when the North Africans were given a late penalty after a video assistant referee check spotted a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back converted in the 87th minute to set up a nail-biting finale.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a stunning leveler in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a opportunity just past the post before a substitute guided a bobbling volley wide of the upright.
Clinching Top Spot
This result ensures that the Super Eagles, champions of the tournament on three past instances, move to 6 points and are guaranteed top spot in Group C with one game left to play.
In the next round, they will meet a best third-place team from either Group A, B or F.
Meanwhile, Tunisia remain on 3 group points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on one point each after playing out a 1-1 stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The concluding group fixtures will see Nigeria stay in Fes to take on the Cranes on the next matchday, while Tunisia return to Rabat to confront Tanzania.
An Anxious Conclusion
Ali Abdi smashed home from the penalty spot to offer Tunisia a glimmer of hope of earning a draw.
Nigeria, runners-up in the 2023 tournament, are the second nation after Egypt to qualify for the knockout stage, but coach Eric Chelle and supporters will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a straightforward last period morphed into a nerve-wracking conclusion.
The prolific striker had a goal ruled out for offside before opening the scoring right before the interval, precisely placing a header into the far post from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The advantage was doubled early in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to power home a header from a Lookman corner.
The number 9 then set up Lookman 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 looping cross hit the forearm of the full-back, with the official pointing to the spot after consulting the pitchside screen.
Despite the defender's successful penalty, the 2004 champions ultimately fell short of completing a stirring comeback.
Their fate remains in their own hands; a draw against Tanzania will be enough to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be eager to avoid a repeat of the past early elimination that led to his previous resignation.
