The Super Eagles Secure Africa Cup of Nations Knockout Place Despite Fierce Carthage Eagles Fightback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in his team establish a 3-0 lead, before they were forced to hold on for a narrow win.
Nigeria survived a dramatic late rally from Tunisia to progress to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being held in Morocco.
The Super Eagles seemed to be in complete control in their pool clash in the Moroccan city, holding a three-goal lead with just 17 minutes left courtesy of goals from their attacking trio.
However, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a powerful header from a Manchester United midfielder free-kick, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The tension escalated when the North Africans were awarded a spot-kick after a VAR check spotted a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. Ali Abdi calmly slotted home in the dying stages to create a nail-biting conclusion.
Tunisia were inches away from a last-gasp equalizer in added time, with their skipper heading a opportunity narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi guided a bobbling volley past the goal frame.
Clinching Top Spot
This result ensures that Nigeria, champions of the competition on 3 past instances, move to 6 group points and are assured first place in their pool with one game left to be contested.
For the round of 16, they will meet a third-placed side from one of the other preliminary groups.
Meanwhile, Tunisia stay on three points, with the East African teams locked on a single point each after registering a one-all stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The final group matches will see the group leaders stay in Fes to play the Cranes on the next matchday, while Tunisia return to Rabat to face Tanzania.
An Anxious Conclusion
Ali Abdi drilled the ball from the penalty spot to offer Tunisia a glimmer of hope of earning a draw.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the previous edition, are the next nation after Egypt to qualify for the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will certainly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a comfortable final quarter transformed into a tense affair.
Victor Osimhen had a goal ruled out for offside before opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time, precisely placing a glancing effort into the far post from an Atalanta winger cross.
The lead was doubled early in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to thump in a powerful nod from a set-piece corner.
The number 9 then set up Lookman for the third goal, only for the defender to steer a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the fightback.
The pivotal incident arrived when a high ball struck the forearm of the full-back, with referee Boubou Traore pointing to the spot after consulting the pitchside screen.
Despite Ali Abdi's confident conversion, the 2004 champions in the end came up just short of pulling off a stirring recovery.
Tunisia's destiny is still in their control; a draw against Tanzania will be enough to secure progression, and their coach will be eager to prevent a recurrence of the 2013 early elimination that led to his departure.
