Nigeria Book Afcon Last 16 Spot In Spite of Late Tunisia Fightback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in Nigeria build a 3-0 lead, before the Super Eagles were compelled to defend resolutely for a narrow win.
The three-time champions survived a dramatic late rally from Tunisia to advance to the knockout stage 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 the Moroccan city, holding a three-goal cushion with only 17 minutes left courtesy of goals from their attacking trio.
Yet, Montassar Talbi reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, igniting hopes of a recovery.
The drama escalated when the North Africans were awarded a spot-kick after a VAR check identified a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back converted in the 87th minute to set up a nail-biting finale.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a stunning equalizer in added time, with their skipper heading a opportunity narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi guided a bobbling volley wide of the goal frame.
Securing First Place
The victory means that Nigeria, winners of the competition on 3 past instances, move to six group points and are guaranteed top spot in Group C with one game left to be contested.
In the next round, they will meet a third-placed team from one of Group A, B or F.
In the other match, Tunisia stay on three group points, with the East African teams locked on a single point after registering a 1-1 draw earlier on Saturday.
The concluding pool matches will see the group leaders stay in Fes to take on the Cranes on the next matchday, while Tunisia travel back to Rabat to confront Tanzania.
An Anxious Conclusion
The Tunisian defender drilled the ball from the penalty spot to offer Tunisia a glimmer of hope of snatching a point.
The Super Eagles, finalists in the 2023 tournament, are the second team after Egypt to qualify for the knockout stage, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a straightforward final quarter transformed into a tense conclusion.
The prolific striker had a goal disallowed for an infringement before opening the scoring on the stroke of the interval, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the far post from an Atalanta winger cross.
The lead was doubled early in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to power home a powerful nod from a set-piece corner.
Osimhen then set up his teammate for the seemingly decisive goal, only for the defender to direct a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the comeback.
The pivotal incident arrived when a high ball hit the arm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with referee Boubou Traore pointing to the spot after consulting the VAR monitor.
Despite the defender's successful penalty, Tunisia in the end fell short of pulling off a stirring comeback.
Tunisia's destiny is still in their control; a draw against Tunisia will be enough to see them through, and their coach will be keen to avoid a recurrence of the past early elimination that led to his departure.
