Nigeria Secure Afcon Knockout Place In Spite of Fierce Carthage Eagles Comeback
Ex- African Footballer of the Year the Napoli star was instrumental in his team build a 3-0 lead, before they were forced to defend resolutely for a hard-fought win.
Nigeria survived a dramatic late rally from their opponents to progress to the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being held in Morocco.
The Super Eagles appeared to be in complete control in their Group C clash in the Moroccan city, holding a three-goal cushion with only 17 minutes remaining courtesy of strikes from their attacking trio.
However, a Tunisian defender pulled one back with a powerful header from a Manchester United midfielder free-kick, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The tension escalated when Tunisia were given a spot-kick after a VAR review identified a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back converted in the dying stages to create a nail-biting finale.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a last-gasp leveler in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a chance just past the post before a substitute sent a bobbling volley wide of the upright.
Clinching First Place
This result means that Nigeria, winners of the competition on three previous occasions, advance to six points and are assured top spot in their pool with a match left to be contested.
In the next round, they will face a best third-place team from one of the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, the 2004 champions stay on three group points, with the East African teams locked on a single point each after registering a 1-1 stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The concluding group matches will see the group leaders remain in the city to take on Uganda on the next matchday, while Tunisia return to Rabat to face the Taifa Stars.
A Nervy Finish
Ali Abdi drilled the ball from 12 yards to give Tunisia a glimmer of hope of earning a draw.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the 2023 tournament, are the next nation after the Pharaohs to qualify for the next phase, but their manager and fans will certainly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a comfortable last period morphed into a tense affair.
The prolific striker had a goal ruled out for offside before breaking the deadlock right before half-time, precisely placing a header into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman delivery.
The lead was doubled early in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to thump in a powerful nod from a set-piece kick.
Osimhen then set up his teammate for the third goal, before the defender to direct a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the fightback.
The pivotal incident came when a high ball struck the arm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official awarding a penalty after consulting the pitchside screen.
Despite Ali Abdi's confident conversion, Tunisia in the end came up just short of pulling off a remarkable comeback.
Their fate remains in their control; a point against Tanzania will be enough to see them through, and their coach will be keen to prevent a recurrence of the past early elimination that resulted in his previous resignation.
