Nigeria Secure Afcon Last 16 Spot In Spite of Fierce Carthage Eagles Fightback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in his team establish a 3-0 advantage, but they were forced to hold on for a hard-fought victory.
Nigeria survived a dramatic late rally from their opponents to progress to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Morocco.
The Super Eagles seemed to be in complete control in their pool encounter in Fes, holding a three-goal cushion with only a quarter of an hour remaining thanks to strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
However, a Tunisian defender pulled one back with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, igniting hopes of a turnaround.
The tension escalated when Tunisia were awarded a late penalty after a video assistant referee check identified a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back converted in the 87th minute to create a frantic finale.
The Carthage Eagles were inches away from a last-gasp leveler in stoppage time, with their skipper heading a chance narrowly wide before a substitute guided a bobbling volley wide of the goal frame.
Securing Top Spot
The victory ensures that the Super Eagles, champions of the competition on three previous occasions, 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 third-placed side from one of Group A, B or F.
In the other match, Tunisia stay on 3 points, with the East African teams tied on a single point after playing out a one-all stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The final group fixtures will see the group leaders stay in the city to take on the Cranes on the next matchday, while the Eagles of Carthage return to Rabat to face Tanzania.
A Nervy Finish
The Tunisian defender smashed home from 12 yards to offer Tunisia a glimmer of hope of earning a draw.
Nigeria, runners-up in the previous tournament, are the next team after the Pharaohs to reach the knockout stage, but their manager and supporters will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What seemed set to be a comfortable last period morphed into a nerve-wracking conclusion.
Victor Osimhen had a goal disallowed for offside before opening the scoring on the stroke of the interval, precisely placing a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger cross.
The advantage was doubled soon in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to thump in a powerful nod from a Lookman kick.
Osimhen then turned provider Lookman for the seemingly decisive goal, only for Montassar Talbi to steer a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the comeback.
The key moment came when a high ball struck the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with referee Boubou Traore pointing to the spot after reviewing the pitchside screen.
Although the defender's confident conversion, Tunisia ultimately came up just short of pulling off a stirring comeback.
Their fate remains in their own hands; a point against Tanzania will be sufficient to see them through, and their coach will be eager to prevent a repeat of the 2013 group-stage exit that led to his departure.
