Nigeria Book Afcon Knockout Spot In Spite of Fierce Carthage Eagles Comeback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star was instrumental in his team build a commanding advantage, before the Super Eagles were compelled to hold on 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 being held in Morocco.
The Super Eagles appeared to be cruising in their Group C encounter in the Moroccan city, holding a three-goal lead with only 17 minutes remaining thanks to strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
Yet, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a close-range finish from a Manchester United midfielder free-kick, igniting hopes of a turnaround.
The tension escalated when Tunisia were given a late penalty after a video assistant referee check identified a handball by the Nigerian defender. The left-back calmly slotted home in the 87th minute to set up a frantic conclusion.
The Carthage Eagles were inches away from a stunning leveler in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a chance narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi sent a half-volley wide of the goal frame.
Securing Top Spot
This result ensures that the Super Eagles, champions of the competition on 3 previous occasions, advance to six points and are guaranteed top spot in their pool with a match still to be contested.
In the next round, they will meet a best third-place team from one of the other preliminary groups.
Meanwhile, Tunisia stay on 3 points, with the East African teams locked on one point after registering a one-all draw in the day's other fixture.
The concluding group matches will see the group leaders stay in Fes to play Uganda on Tuesday, while Tunisia travel back to the capital to confront the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Conclusion
Ali Abdi smashed the ball from 12 yards to offer his team hope of earning a draw.
The Super Eagles, finalists in the previous tournament, are the second team after Egypt to qualify for the next phase, but their manager and supporters will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a straightforward last period transformed into a tense affair.
The prolific striker had a effort ruled out for offside before opening the scoring right before half-time, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the far post from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The advantage was doubled early in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to thump in a header from a Lookman corner.
Osimhen then set up Lookman for the third goal, only for Montassar Talbi to direct a powerful header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the comeback.
The key moment arrived when a looping cross struck the arm of the full-back, with the official pointing to the spot after consulting the VAR monitor.
Although the defender's confident conversion, the 2004 champions in the end fell short of completing a stirring recovery.
Their fate is still in their own hands; a draw against Tunisia will be enough to see them through, and their coach will be keen to prevent a recurrence of the 2013 early elimination that led to his previous resignation.
