The Super Eagles Secure Afcon Last 16 Place Despite Late Carthage Eagles Fightback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped Nigeria establish a 3-0 advantage, but they were compelled to defend resolutely for a hard-fought win.
Nigeria survived a stunning late rally from their opponents to progress to the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Morocco.
Jose Peseiro's side appeared to be in complete control in their pool clash in the Moroccan city, enjoying a 3-0 cushion with only a quarter of an hour remaining thanks to strikes from their attacking trio.
Yet, a Tunisian defender pulled one back with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, igniting hopes of a recovery.
The tension intensified when the North Africans were awarded a late penalty after a VAR review identified a handball by the Nigerian defender. The left-back converted in the dying stages to set up a frantic finale.
The Carthage Eagles came agonizingly close from a stunning leveler in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a chance narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi guided a bobbling volley past the upright.
Clinching Top Spot
This result ensures that the Super Eagles, winners of the tournament on three previous occasions, move to 6 points and are guaranteed top spot in their pool with one game still to play.
For the round of 16, they will meet a third-placed side from one of Group A, B or F.
In the other match, Tunisia remain on three points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on a single point each after playing out a one-all stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The concluding group fixtures will see Nigeria remain in the city to play the Cranes on Tuesday, while Tunisia travel back to Rabat to face the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Conclusion
Ali Abdi drilled the ball from 12 yards to offer his team a glimmer of hope of snatching a point.
Nigeria, runners-up in the 2023 edition, are the second team after Egypt to qualify for the next phase, but their manager and supporters will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What seemed set to be a comfortable final quarter morphed into a nerve-wracking affair.
The prolific striker 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 Atalanta winger cross.
The advantage was doubled early in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi climbed above everyone to power home a header from a set-piece corner.
The number 9 then set up Lookman for the third goal, before Montassar Talbi to steer a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the comeback.
The key incident came when a looping cross hit the forearm of the full-back, with the official pointing to the spot after consulting the pitchside screen.
Although the defender's successful penalty, the 2004 champions in the end fell short of pulling off a stirring recovery.
Their fate is still in their own hands; a point against Tunisia will be sufficient to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to prevent a recurrence of the past early elimination that resulted in his previous resignation.
