Nigeria Book Afcon Knockout Spot In Spite of Fierce Tunisia Comeback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star helped his team build a 3-0 advantage, before they were forced to defend resolutely for a narrow victory.
Nigeria survived a dramatic comeback attempt from their opponents to advance to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in the host nation.
Jose Peseiro's side appeared to be cruising in their Group C clash in the Moroccan city, holding a 3-0 lead with only 17 minutes left thanks to goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
Yet, Montassar Talbi reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, sparking hopes of a turnaround.
The tension intensified when the North Africans were given a spot-kick after a video assistant referee review spotted a handling offense by the Nigerian defender. Ali Abdi converted in the dying stages to create a nail-biting conclusion.
The Carthage Eagles 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 past the upright.
Clinching Top Spot
This result ensures that Nigeria, winners of the competition on 3 previous occasions, advance to six group points and are guaranteed first place in Group C with a match left to be contested.
In the next round, they will meet a best third-place side from either the other preliminary groups.
Meanwhile, the 2004 champions stay on three points, with the East African teams tied on one point after registering a one-all draw in the day's other fixture.
The concluding group fixtures will see the group leaders stay in the city to play the Cranes on the next matchday, while the Eagles of Carthage return to Rabat to confront the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Conclusion
Ali Abdi smashed the ball from 12 yards to give his team a glimmer of hope of earning a point.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the previous tournament, become the second team after Egypt to reach the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and supporters will certainly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a straightforward final quarter morphed into a tense conclusion.
The prolific striker had a goal disallowed for an infringement before breaking the deadlock right before the interval, expertly guiding a header into the far post from an Atalanta winger cross.
The advantage was doubled early in the second half when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to power home a powerful nod from a Lookman corner.
Osimhen then turned provider Lookman for the third goal, only for the defender to direct a powerful header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the comeback.
The pivotal incident arrived when a looping cross struck the arm of the full-back, with referee Boubou Traore pointing to the spot after consulting the VAR monitor.
Despite the defender's confident conversion, the 2004 champions in the end came up just short of pulling off a remarkable recovery.
Their fate is still in their control; a point against Tunisia will be enough to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be eager to prevent a recurrence of the 2013 group-stage exit that resulted in his previous resignation.
