The Super Eagles Secure Afcon Knockout Place In Spite of Fierce Tunisia Comeback
Ex- African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in Nigeria establish a commanding advantage, before the Super Eagles were forced to hold on for a narrow win.
The three-time champions weathered a dramatic comeback attempt from Tunisia to progress to the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being held in the host nation.
The Super Eagles seemed to be cruising in their pool encounter in the Moroccan city, enjoying a 3-0 lead with only 17 minutes left thanks to strikes from their attacking trio.
However, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The tension intensified when the North Africans were awarded a late penalty after a VAR review spotted a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back converted in the dying stages to create a frantic finale.
The Carthage Eagles came agonizingly close from a stunning equalizer in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a opportunity narrowly wide before a substitute guided a half-volley wide of the upright.
Clinching Top Spot
This result means that the Super Eagles, winners of the competition on three past instances, move to six points and are assured first place in their pool with a match still to be contested.
In the next round, they will meet a third-placed side from either Group A, B or F.
In the other match, Tunisia stay on 3 group points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on one point each after playing out a one-all stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The final group fixtures will see the group leaders remain in the city to play the Cranes on Tuesday, while the Eagles of Carthage return to the capital to face Tanzania.
An Anxious Finish
Ali Abdi smashed the ball from the penalty spot to give his team hope of earning a draw.
Nigeria, runners-up in the previous tournament, become the next team after Egypt to reach the next phase, but their manager and fans will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a straightforward final quarter transformed into a tense affair.
The prolific striker had a effort disallowed for an infringement before opening the scoring on the stroke of the interval, expertly guiding a header into the far post from an Ademola Lookman delivery.
The lead was doubled early in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to thump in a powerful nod from a set-piece kick.
The number 9 then turned provider Lookman for the seemingly decisive goal, only for Montassar Talbi to direct a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the fightback.
The key moment arrived when a looping cross struck the arm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official awarding a penalty after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Despite Ali Abdi's confident conversion, the 2004 champions in the end fell short of pulling off a remarkable recovery.
Tunisia's destiny is still in their control; a draw against Tanzania will be enough to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be eager to avoid a recurrence of the past early elimination that led to his departure.
