Nigeria Secure Afcon Last 16 Spot Despite Late Tunisia Fightback
Former African Footballer of the Year the Napoli star helped his team build a commanding lead, but they were compelled to hold on for a narrow win.
The three-time champions survived a dramatic comeback attempt from their opponents to progress to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in the host nation.
The Super Eagles appeared to be cruising in their pool encounter in Fes, holding a 3-0 cushion with only 17 minutes remaining courtesy of strikes from their attacking trio.
However, Montassar Talbi reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, sparking hopes of a turnaround.
The drama escalated when the North Africans were given a late penalty after a video assistant referee check spotted a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. Ali Abdi calmly slotted home in the 87th minute to set up a frantic finale.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a stunning equalizer in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a opportunity narrowly wide before a substitute guided a bobbling volley wide of the goal frame.
Clinching First Place
The victory means that the Super Eagles, champions of the tournament on three past instances, move to six group points and are assured top spot in their pool with one game still to be contested.
For the round of 16, they will meet a third-placed side from either the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, Tunisia remain on three points, with the East African teams locked on one point after playing out a 1-1 draw earlier on Saturday.
The final pool fixtures will see the group leaders stay in Fes to play Uganda on Tuesday, while Tunisia return to Rabat to confront the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Finish
The Tunisian defender smashed the ball from 12 yards to offer Tunisia hope of snatching a point.
Nigeria, runners-up in the 2023 tournament, are the next nation after Egypt to reach the next phase, but their manager and supporters will certainly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a comfortable final quarter transformed into a tense affair.
Victor Osimhen had a effort disallowed for an infringement before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of the interval, precisely placing a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger delivery.
The advantage was doubled soon in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to power home a powerful nod from a set-piece corner.
Osimhen then set up Lookman for the third goal, before Montassar Talbi to steer a powerful header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the fightback.
The key incident arrived when a high ball hit the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official awarding a penalty after consulting the VAR monitor.
Although Ali Abdi's successful penalty, Tunisia in the end came up just short of completing a stirring comeback.
Tunisia's destiny remains in their own hands; a point against Tunisia will be enough to secure progression, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be eager to prevent a repeat of the 2013 group-stage exit that resulted in his previous resignation.
