Nigeria Secure Afcon Knockout Spot In Spite of Late Carthage Eagles Comeback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in his team build a commanding advantage, before the Super Eagles were forced to defend resolutely for a narrow 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 the host nation.
Jose Peseiro's side seemed to be cruising in their Group C clash in Fes, holding a 3-0 cushion with only a quarter of an hour remaining 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, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The tension intensified when the North Africans were awarded a spot-kick after a video assistant referee review spotted a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. Ali Abdi converted in the dying stages to set up a frantic finale.
The Carthage Eagles were inches away from a last-gasp equalizer in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a chance narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi sent a half-volley past the goal frame.
Clinching First Place
The victory means that the Super Eagles, champions of the tournament on three past instances, move to six group points and are guaranteed top spot in their pool with one game left to play.
For the round of 16, they will meet a third-placed team from one of the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, the 2004 champions stay on 3 points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on a single point after registering a 1-1 stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The final pool matches will see the group leaders stay in the city to take on Uganda on Tuesday, while Tunisia travel back to Rabat to confront Tanzania.
A Nervy Finish
Ali Abdi drilled the ball from the penalty spot to offer Tunisia a glimmer of hope of earning a point.
Nigeria, runners-up in the 2023 tournament, become the second nation after Egypt to reach the next phase, but their manager and supporters will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What seemed set to be a straightforward final quarter morphed into a tense conclusion.
The prolific striker had a goal disallowed for an infringement before opening the scoring on the stroke of the interval, precisely placing a glancing effort into the far post from an Atalanta winger cross.
The lead was doubled early in the second half when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to power home a header from a Lookman kick.
Osimhen then turned provider his teammate for the third goal, only for the defender to steer a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the comeback.
The key incident came when a looping cross struck the forearm of the full-back, with the official awarding a penalty after consulting the pitchside screen.
Despite Ali Abdi's successful penalty, Tunisia ultimately came up just short of pulling off a remarkable comeback.
Tunisia's destiny remains in their own hands; a draw against Tanzania will be enough to secure progression, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to avoid a recurrence of the 2013 group-stage exit that resulted in his departure.
