Nigeria Secure Afcon Last 16 Place Despite Late Tunisia Fightback
Former African Footballer of the Year the Napoli star was instrumental in his team establish a commanding advantage, before the Super Eagles were forced to hold on for a hard-fought win.
Nigeria survived a dramatic comeback attempt from their opponents to progress to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being held in the host nation.
Jose Peseiro's side seemed to be in complete control in their pool encounter in the Moroccan city, enjoying a 3-0 lead with only 17 minutes remaining courtesy of goals from their attacking trio.
However, Montassar Talbi reduced the deficit with a powerful header from a Manchester United midfielder set-piece, sparking hopes of a turnaround.
The tension escalated when the North Africans were given a late penalty after a VAR review spotted a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the dying stages to create a frantic conclusion.
Tunisia were inches away from a stunning equalizer in added time, with their skipper directing a opportunity narrowly wide before a substitute guided a bobbling volley past the goal frame.
Securing First Place
This result means that Nigeria, champions of the tournament on three previous occasions, move to 6 group points and are guaranteed first place in their pool with one game left to be contested.
In the next round, they will face a third-placed side from either the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, Tunisia remain on three points, with the East African teams locked on one point after playing out a one-all stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The concluding pool matches will see the group leaders remain in Fes to take on the Cranes on Tuesday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to Rabat to face Tanzania.
An Anxious Conclusion
The Tunisian defender drilled home from 12 yards to give his team hope of snatching a draw.
The Super Eagles, finalists in the 2023 edition, become the second team after the Pharaohs to reach the knockout stage, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What seemed set to be a comfortable final quarter transformed into a tense affair.
Victor Osimhen had a goal disallowed for offside before opening the scoring right before half-time, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the far post from an Atalanta winger delivery.
The advantage was doubled early in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to thump in a powerful nod from a Lookman corner.
Osimhen then set up Lookman for the third goal, before the defender to direct a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the fightback.
The key incident arrived when a looping cross hit the forearm of the full-back, with referee Boubou Traore awarding a penalty after reviewing the pitchside screen.
Although Ali Abdi's successful penalty, the 2004 champions in the end came up just short of completing a stirring comeback.
Their fate is still in their control; a draw against Tanzania will be enough to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to prevent a recurrence of the 2013 early elimination that led to his departure.
