Nigeria Secure Africa Cup of Nations Knockout Place Despite Fierce Carthage Eagles Comeback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star helped Nigeria build a commanding lead, but the Super Eagles were forced to hold on for a narrow 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 the host nation.
The Super Eagles seemed to be cruising in their pool clash in Fes, enjoying a 3-0 cushion with only a quarter of an hour left courtesy of strikes from their attacking trio.
However, a Tunisian defender reduced the deficit with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, sparking hopes of a turnaround.
The tension intensified when the North Africans were awarded a late penalty after a VAR check spotted a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the dying stages to set up a nail-biting finale.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a last-gasp equalizer in added time, with their skipper heading a opportunity just past the post before a substitute sent a half-volley wide of the upright.
Clinching First Place
The victory means that the Super Eagles, champions of the competition on three past instances, advance to six group points and are guaranteed first place in Group C with a match left to play.
In the next round, they will face a best third-place side from one of the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, Tunisia remain on three group points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on one point each after registering a 1-1 draw in the day's other fixture.
The concluding pool matches will see the group leaders stay in Fes to play the Cranes on Tuesday, while Tunisia return to Rabat to confront the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Conclusion
The Tunisian defender drilled home from the penalty spot to give his team hope of snatching a draw.
Nigeria, finalists in the previous tournament, are the second nation after Egypt to qualify for the knockout stage, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a comfortable final quarter morphed into a nerve-wracking affair.
Victor Osimhen had a effort disallowed for offside before breaking the deadlock right before the interval, precisely placing a header into the far post from an Ademola Lookman delivery.
The lead was extended soon in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to thump in a header from a Lookman corner.
The number 9 then turned provider his teammate for the seemingly decisive goal, only for the defender to steer a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the fightback.
The pivotal moment arrived when a looping cross hit the forearm of the full-back, with referee Boubou Traore pointing to the spot after consulting the pitchside screen.
Although the defender's confident conversion, Tunisia ultimately came up just short of completing a stirring comeback.
Their fate remains in their own hands; a draw against Tunisia will be sufficient to see them through, and their coach will be eager to avoid a repeat of the 2013 early elimination that resulted in his departure.
