Nigeria Secure Afcon Last 16 Place Despite Late Carthage Eagles Fightback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star helped Nigeria establish a commanding advantage, but the Super Eagles were forced to defend resolutely for a hard-fought win.
The three-time champions weathered a dramatic late rally from their opponents to advance to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Morocco.
Jose Peseiro's side seemed to be cruising in their pool clash in the Moroccan city, enjoying a 3-0 cushion with just a quarter of an hour left courtesy of goals from their attacking trio.
Yet, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, sparking hopes of a turnaround.
The drama escalated when Tunisia were given a spot-kick after a video assistant referee review spotted a handling offense by the Nigerian defender. The left-back converted in the dying stages to set up a frantic conclusion.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a last-gasp leveler in stoppage time, with their skipper heading a chance just past the post before a substitute sent a bobbling volley wide of the goal frame.
Clinching First Place
The victory means that the Super Eagles, winners of the competition on three past instances, advance to six group points and are assured first place in Group C with one game still to play.
For the round of 16, they will meet a best third-place side from either Group A, B or F.
Meanwhile, the 2004 champions remain on three points, with the East African teams tied on one point each after playing out a 1-1 stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The final group fixtures will see Nigeria remain in the city to take on the Cranes on Tuesday, while the Eagles of Carthage return to Rabat to face Tanzania.
An Anxious Finish
Ali Abdi drilled the ball from 12 yards to give his team hope of snatching a point.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the previous tournament, become the next nation after the Pharaohs to reach the knockout stage, but their manager and supporters will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a straightforward final quarter transformed into a tense affair.
Victor Osimhen had a goal ruled out for an infringement before opening the scoring on the stroke of the interval, precisely placing a header into the far post from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The lead was extended early in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi climbed above everyone to thump in a header from a Lookman corner.
Osimhen then turned provider Lookman for the seemingly decisive goal, before Montassar Talbi to steer a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the comeback.
The key incident arrived when a looping cross struck the arm of the full-back, with the official awarding a penalty after reviewing the pitchside screen.
Although the defender's successful penalty, the 2004 champions in the end fell short of pulling off a remarkable recovery.
Tunisia's destiny remains in their own hands; a point against Tanzania will be sufficient to see them through, and their coach will be keen to prevent a recurrence of the 2013 early elimination that resulted in his previous resignation.
