Nigeria Book Afcon Last 16 Spot In Spite of Late Carthage Eagles Fightback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped his team establish a commanding advantage, before the Super Eagles were forced to hold on for a hard-fought victory.
The three-time champions survived a dramatic late rally from their opponents to advance to the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in the host nation.
The Super Eagles seemed to be in complete control in their Group C clash in Fes, enjoying a 3-0 cushion with just 17 minutes remaining thanks to goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
Yet, a Tunisian defender reduced the deficit with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, igniting hopes of a turnaround.
The drama escalated when Tunisia were given a late penalty after a VAR check identified a handball by the Nigerian defender. Ali Abdi calmly slotted home in the 87th minute to set up a nail-biting conclusion.
The Carthage Eagles were inches away from a last-gasp leveler in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a chance narrowly wide before a substitute guided a bobbling volley past the goal frame.
Clinching Top Spot
The victory ensures that the Super Eagles, champions of the tournament on three past instances, move to six group points and are guaranteed first place in their pool with one game still to be contested.
For the round of 16, they will face a third-placed team from one of Group A, B or F.
In the other match, the 2004 champions stay on three group points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on a single point after registering a 1-1 draw in the day's other fixture.
The final group fixtures will see Nigeria remain in the city to play Uganda on the next matchday, while Tunisia travel back to Rabat to confront the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Conclusion
The Tunisian defender drilled the ball from the penalty spot to give his team a glimmer of hope of earning a draw.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the 2023 tournament, are the next nation after the Pharaohs to reach the next phase, but their manager and supporters will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What seemed set to be a comfortable last period morphed into a tense conclusion.
The prolific striker had a goal ruled out for offside before opening the scoring right before the interval, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the far post from an Atalanta winger cross.
The lead was extended early in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to thump in a header from a Lookman kick.
Osimhen then set up Lookman for the third goal, only for the defender to steer a powerful header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the comeback.
The pivotal incident arrived when a looping cross struck the arm of the full-back, with the official pointing to the spot after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Although Ali Abdi's confident conversion, Tunisia in the end fell short of completing a stirring comeback.
Tunisia's destiny is still in their own hands; a point against Tanzania will be sufficient to see them through, and their coach will be keen to avoid a recurrence of the 2013 early elimination that resulted in his departure.
