The Super Eagles Secure Africa Cup of Nations Knockout Place In Spite of Late Tunisia Comeback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped his team establish a commanding lead, but they were compelled to defend resolutely for a narrow victory.
The three-time champions weathered a dramatic comeback attempt from Tunisia to advance to the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being held in Morocco.
The Super Eagles seemed to be cruising in their Group C encounter in the Moroccan city, holding a three-goal lead with only a quarter of an hour left courtesy of strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
Yet, a Tunisian defender reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, igniting hopes of a recovery.
The drama intensified when Tunisia were awarded a spot-kick after a VAR review identified a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the 87th minute to set up a frantic conclusion.
The Carthage Eagles were inches away from a stunning equalizer in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a opportunity narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi sent a bobbling volley past the goal frame.
Clinching First Place
This result means that the Super Eagles, winners of the competition on three past instances, advance to six points and are guaranteed top spot in their pool with one game left to be contested.
For the round of 16, they will face a best third-place team from one of Group A, B or F.
In the other match, the 2004 champions remain on 3 group points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on a single point each after playing out a one-all draw earlier on Saturday.
The concluding pool fixtures will see the group leaders remain in Fes to take on Uganda on Tuesday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to Rabat to face the Taifa Stars.
A Nervy Finish
The Tunisian defender smashed the ball from the penalty spot to give Tunisia hope of snatching a point.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the previous edition, are the next nation after Egypt to qualify for 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 conclusion.
The prolific striker had a goal disallowed for an infringement before opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time, expertly guiding a header into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger cross.
The lead was doubled soon in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to power home a header from a set-piece corner.
The number 9 then turned provider his teammate for the third goal, before Montassar Talbi to steer a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the fightback.
The key incident arrived when a high ball hit the arm of the full-back, with the official awarding a penalty after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Despite Ali Abdi's confident conversion, the 2004 champions ultimately fell short of pulling off a remarkable comeback.
Their fate remains in their own hands; a point against Tanzania will be sufficient to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be eager to avoid a recurrence of the past early elimination that resulted in his departure.
