Nigeria Secure Afcon Knockout Spot Despite Late Carthage Eagles Comeback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star helped his team build a 3-0 advantage, before the Super Eagles were forced to defend resolutely for a hard-fought victory.
Nigeria weathered a dramatic comeback attempt from Tunisia to advance to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Morocco.
The Super Eagles appeared to be cruising in their Group C clash in the Moroccan city, enjoying a 3-0 cushion with only 17 minutes left courtesy of strikes from their attacking trio.
However, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a close-range finish from a Manchester United midfielder set-piece, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The tension escalated when the North Africans were given a spot-kick after a VAR check spotted a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. Ali Abdi converted in the 87th minute to set up a frantic finale.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a last-gasp leveler in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a opportunity narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi guided a bobbling volley wide of the goal frame.
Clinching Top Spot
This result ensures that Nigeria, champions of the tournament on 3 past instances, move to 6 group points and are guaranteed first place in Group C with one game left to play.
For the round of 16, they will meet a third-placed side from either Group A, B or F.
Meanwhile, Tunisia stay on 3 group points, with the East African teams locked on a single point after playing out a one-all stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The concluding pool matches will see Nigeria stay in the city to take on Uganda on Tuesday, while Tunisia return to Rabat to face Tanzania.
A Nervy Finish
The Tunisian defender smashed home from 12 yards to give his team a glimmer of hope of snatching a draw.
Nigeria, runners-up in the 2023 edition, become the next team after the Pharaohs to reach the knockout stage, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will certainly be feeling relieved.
What seemed set to be a comfortable last period morphed into a tense conclusion.
The prolific striker had a effort ruled out for offside before breaking the deadlock right before half-time, precisely placing a glancing effort into the far post from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The lead was doubled early in the second half when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to power home a header from a set-piece corner.
Osimhen then set up Lookman for the third goal, before Montassar Talbi to direct a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the fightback.
The key moment arrived when a looping cross hit the forearm of the full-back, with referee Boubou Traore pointing to the spot after consulting the pitchside screen.
Although Ali Abdi's confident conversion, Tunisia in the end fell short of pulling off a stirring recovery.
Their fate is still in their control; a point against Tunisia will be sufficient to secure progression, and their coach will be eager to prevent a recurrence of the 2013 group-stage exit that led to his departure.
