The Super Eagles Secure Afcon Knockout Place In Spite of Late Tunisia Fightback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in Nigeria build a 3-0 lead, before they were compelled to hold on for a narrow win.
The three-time champions weathered 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 seemed to be cruising in their pool clash in the Moroccan city, holding a 3-0 lead with only a quarter of an hour remaining thanks to goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
However, a Tunisian defender pulled one back with a close-range finish from a Manchester United midfielder set-piece, igniting hopes of a turnaround.
The drama escalated when Tunisia were awarded a spot-kick after a VAR review identified a handball by the Nigerian defender. The left-back calmly slotted home in the 87th minute to create a frantic finale.
Tunisia were inches away from a stunning equalizer in stoppage time, with their skipper heading a opportunity narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi guided a bobbling volley past the upright.
Clinching Top Spot
The victory means that Nigeria, champions of the tournament on 3 previous occasions, advance to 6 points and are guaranteed top spot in their pool with one game left to be contested.
In the next round, they will face a best third-place side from one of the other preliminary groups.
Meanwhile, Tunisia stay on 3 group points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on one point after playing out a 1-1 stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The concluding group fixtures will see the group leaders stay in Fes to take on Uganda on the next matchday, while Tunisia travel back to the capital to face Tanzania.
A Nervy Conclusion
Ali Abdi drilled the ball from the penalty spot to give Tunisia a glimmer of hope of snatching a draw.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the previous edition, become the next nation after Egypt to qualify for the knockout stage, but their manager and supporters will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What seemed set to be a straightforward last period transformed into a tense conclusion.
Victor Osimhen had a goal disallowed for an infringement before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of the interval, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger cross.
The lead was extended soon in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi climbed above everyone to power home a header from a Lookman kick.
Osimhen then set up his teammate for the third goal, before the defender to direct a powerful header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the fightback.
The pivotal moment arrived when a looping cross struck 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 in the end fell short of pulling off a remarkable comeback.
Tunisia's destiny is still in their control; a point against Tanzania will be enough to see them through, and their coach will be keen to prevent a recurrence of the 2013 early elimination that resulted in his departure.
