The Super Eagles Secure Africa Cup of Nations Last 16 Spot In Spite of Late Tunisia Comeback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star was instrumental in his team build a commanding advantage, but the Super Eagles were compelled to defend resolutely for a hard-fought win.
The three-time champions survived a dramatic comeback attempt from their opponents to progress to the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being held in Morocco.
Jose Peseiro's side seemed to be in complete control in their Group C clash in the Moroccan city, enjoying a three-goal cushion with just 17 minutes left thanks to goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
However, a Tunisian defender reduced the deficit with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, igniting hopes of a turnaround.
The tension intensified when the North Africans were awarded a spot-kick after a video assistant referee check spotted a handball by the Nigerian defender. Ali Abdi converted in the 87th minute to set up a frantic finale.
Tunisia were inches away from a last-gasp equalizer in added time, with their skipper heading a chance just past the post before Ismael Gharbi guided a bobbling volley past the upright.
Clinching First Place
The victory means that the Super Eagles, champions of the competition on three previous occasions, move to six points and are assured first place in Group C with a match left to play.
In the next round, they will meet a best third-place side from one of the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, the 2004 champions remain on three group points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on one point each after playing out a 1-1 stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The concluding group fixtures will see Nigeria remain in Fes to play Uganda on the next matchday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to Rabat to confront the Taifa Stars.
A Nervy Conclusion
The Tunisian defender drilled home from 12 yards to offer his team a glimmer of hope of earning a draw.
The Super Eagles, finalists in the 2023 tournament, are the next nation after Egypt to qualify for the knockout stage, but their manager and fans will certainly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a straightforward final quarter morphed into a tense affair.
Victor Osimhen had a goal ruled out for offside before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of the interval, precisely placing a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The lead was doubled early in the second half when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to thump in a powerful nod from a Lookman corner.
Osimhen then set up Lookman for the third goal, only for Montassar Talbi to steer a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the fightback.
The key moment arrived when a high ball struck the forearm of the full-back, with the official pointing to the spot after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Despite the defender's successful penalty, Tunisia in the end came up just short of pulling off a stirring recovery.
Tunisia's destiny remains in their own hands; a point against Tunisia will be sufficient to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to prevent a repeat of the 2013 group-stage exit that resulted in his previous resignation.
