Nigeria Book Afcon Last 16 Place In Spite of Late Carthage Eagles Fightback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped his team establish a commanding lead, but the Super Eagles were forced to defend resolutely for a hard-fought victory.
The three-time champions weathered a dramatic comeback attempt from their opponents to advance to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being held in Morocco.
The Super Eagles seemed to be cruising in their Group C encounter in Fes, enjoying a three-goal cushion with just a quarter of an hour left thanks to strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
However, a Tunisian defender reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The tension intensified when Tunisia were given a spot-kick after a video assistant referee check identified a handling offense by the Nigerian defender. The left-back converted in the 87th minute to set up a frantic finale.
The Carthage Eagles came agonizingly close from a stunning equalizer in stoppage time, with their skipper heading a opportunity just past the post before a substitute sent a bobbling volley past the upright.
Clinching Top Spot
This result ensures that the Super Eagles, winners of the tournament on 3 previous occasions, advance to six points and are guaranteed first place in Group C with a match left to be contested.
For the round of 16, they will face a third-placed team from either Group A, B or F.
Meanwhile, the 2004 champions remain on 3 group points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on one point each after registering a 1-1 draw earlier on Saturday.
The final pool matches will see Nigeria stay in the city to play Uganda on Tuesday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to the capital to confront the Taifa Stars.
A Nervy Conclusion
The Tunisian defender drilled home from 12 yards to give Tunisia a glimmer of hope of earning a point.
Nigeria, finalists in the previous edition, are the next team after Egypt to qualify for the next phase, but their manager and fans will certainly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What seemed set to be a straightforward final quarter transformed into a nerve-wracking affair.
The prolific striker had a effort disallowed for offside before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, precisely placing a header into the far post from an Ademola Lookman delivery.
The lead was doubled early in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to power home a powerful nod from a set-piece kick.
The number 9 then set up Lookman for the third goal, before the defender to direct a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the fightback.
The key moment arrived when a high ball hit the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with referee Boubou Traore awarding a penalty after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Although Ali Abdi's confident conversion, the 2004 champions ultimately came up just short of pulling off a stirring recovery.
Tunisia's destiny is still in their control; a point against Tanzania will be sufficient to secure progression, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to avoid a recurrence of the past early elimination that led to his departure.
