Nigeria Book Afcon Knockout Place In Spite of Fierce Carthage Eagles Comeback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star helped his team build a commanding advantage, before the Super Eagles were compelled to hold on for a narrow win.
Nigeria survived a dramatic late rally from their opponents to advance to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being held in the host nation.
Jose Peseiro's side seemed to be in complete control in their pool clash in Fes, enjoying a three-goal lead with only a quarter of an hour left courtesy of 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 free-kick, sparking hopes of a turnaround.
The tension intensified when Tunisia were given a spot-kick after a video assistant referee check identified a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the dying stages to create a frantic finale.
The Carthage Eagles were inches away from a stunning equalizer in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a opportunity just past the post before Ismael Gharbi sent a half-volley wide of the goal frame.
Securing First Place
This result means that the Super Eagles, winners of the competition on three past instances, move to 6 group points and are guaranteed first place in their pool with a match left to play.
In the next round, they will face a best third-place team from one of the other preliminary groups.
Meanwhile, the 2004 champions remain on three points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on a single point after playing out a 1-1 stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The final pool fixtures will see the group leaders remain in Fes to play Uganda on the next matchday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to Rabat to confront Tanzania.
An Anxious Conclusion
The Tunisian defender smashed home from 12 yards to give his team hope of earning a draw.
Nigeria, runners-up in the previous edition, become the second team after Egypt to qualify for the next phase, but their manager and fans will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a comfortable final quarter transformed into a tense affair.
Victor Osimhen had a effort ruled out 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 advantage was extended soon in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to thump in a header from a Lookman corner.
Osimhen then set up Lookman for the seemingly decisive goal, only for Montassar Talbi to steer a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the fightback.
The key 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.
Although the defender's successful penalty, Tunisia ultimately came up just short of pulling off a remarkable comeback.
Tunisia's destiny remains in their control; a point against Tanzania will be enough to secure progression, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to avoid a recurrence of the past group-stage exit that led to his previous resignation.
