Nigeria Secure Afcon Last 16 Spot In Spite of Fierce Carthage Eagles Fightback
Ex- African Footballer of the Year the Napoli star helped his team establish a commanding advantage, but the Super Eagles were compelled to defend resolutely for a hard-fought victory.
The three-time champions survived a dramatic late rally from Tunisia to advance to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Morocco.
The Super Eagles appeared to be in complete control in their pool clash in the Moroccan city, holding a 3-0 lead with only a quarter of an hour remaining courtesy of strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
Yet, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The tension intensified when the North Africans were given a late penalty after a video assistant referee check identified a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. Ali Abdi calmly slotted home in the 87th minute to set up a nail-biting conclusion.
Tunisia were inches away from a last-gasp equalizer in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a opportunity just past the post before Ismael Gharbi sent a half-volley wide of the upright.
Clinching First Place
The victory ensures that Nigeria, champions of the tournament on 3 past instances, advance to 6 group points and are assured first place in their pool with a match still to play.
In the next round, they will meet a best third-place team from one of the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, Tunisia remain on 3 group points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on a single point each after playing out a one-all stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The concluding group fixtures will see Nigeria remain in Fes to take on the Cranes on Tuesday, while Tunisia return to Rabat to face the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Conclusion
The Tunisian defender drilled the ball from 12 yards to give his team a glimmer of hope of earning a draw.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the previous tournament, become the next team after the Pharaohs to qualify for the next phase, but their manager and fans will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What seemed set to be a comfortable last period morphed into a nerve-wracking conclusion.
The prolific striker had a effort disallowed for offside before opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time, precisely placing a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The advantage was doubled early in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to power home a powerful nod from a set-piece kick.
The number 9 then turned provider his teammate for the seemingly decisive goal, before the defender to steer a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the fightback.
The pivotal moment came when a high ball struck the arm of the full-back, with referee Boubou Traore pointing to the spot after reviewing the pitchside screen.
Despite Ali Abdi's confident conversion, the 2004 champions ultimately fell short of completing a stirring comeback.
Their fate remains in their control; a draw against Tunisia will be enough to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to avoid a recurrence of the past early elimination that resulted in his departure.
