The Super Eagles Secure Africa Cup of Nations Knockout Spot Despite Fierce Carthage Eagles Fightback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star was instrumental in Nigeria establish a commanding advantage, before the Super Eagles were forced to hold on for a hard-fought victory.
The three-time champions survived a dramatic late rally from Tunisia to advance to the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being held in Morocco.
Jose Peseiro's side seemed to be cruising in their pool encounter in Fes, enjoying a 3-0 lead with only a quarter of an hour remaining thanks to goals from their attacking trio.
Yet, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a powerful header from a Manchester United midfielder set-piece, igniting hopes of a recovery.
The drama intensified when the North Africans were given a spot-kick after a video assistant referee review identified a handling offense by the Nigerian defender. Ali Abdi calmly slotted home in the 87th minute to set up a frantic finale.
Tunisia were inches away from a stunning equalizer in stoppage time, with their skipper directing a chance narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi guided a half-volley wide of the upright.
Clinching First Place
The victory means that the Super Eagles, champions of the tournament on 3 previous occasions, move to six points and are assured top spot in Group C with one game still to be contested.
For the round of 16, they will meet a third-placed side from one of the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, the 2004 champions stay on 3 group points, with the East African teams tied on one point each after registering a 1-1 stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The concluding pool matches will see the group leaders stay in the city to take on Uganda on the next matchday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to Rabat to confront the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Finish
The Tunisian defender smashed the ball from 12 yards to offer his team a glimmer of hope of earning a point.
Nigeria, finalists in the 2023 edition, are the second team after Egypt to qualify for the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What seemed set to be a straightforward final quarter transformed into a tense conclusion.
Victor Osimhen had a effort ruled out for offside before opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time, expertly guiding a header into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The advantage was doubled soon in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi climbed above everyone to power home a header from a set-piece corner.
The number 9 then turned provider his teammate for the third goal, before Montassar Talbi to steer a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the comeback.
The key incident arrived when a high ball struck the arm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with referee Boubou Traore pointing to the spot after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Although Ali Abdi's successful penalty, the 2004 champions in the end came up just short of pulling off a stirring recovery.
Their fate remains in their own hands; a draw against Tunisia will be sufficient to see them through, and their coach will be keen to avoid a recurrence of the 2013 early elimination that led to his previous resignation.
