The Super Eagles Secure Afcon Knockout Spot Despite Late Carthage Eagles Comeback
Ex- African Footballer of the Year the Napoli star was instrumental in his team establish a commanding lead, before they were forced to hold on for a hard-fought victory.
The three-time champions survived a dramatic late rally from their opponents to advance to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being held in Morocco.
Jose Peseiro's side seemed to be cruising in their pool encounter in the Moroccan city, enjoying a three-goal cushion with only a quarter of an hour remaining courtesy of goals from their attacking trio.
However, a Tunisian defender pulled one back with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The drama escalated when the North Africans were awarded a late penalty after a video assistant referee check spotted a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. Ali Abdi calmly slotted home in the dying stages to create a nail-biting finale.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a last-gasp equalizer in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a chance just past the post before Ismael Gharbi guided a bobbling volley wide of the goal frame.
Clinching Top Spot
This result ensures that Nigeria, winners of the competition on 3 previous occasions, advance to 6 points and are guaranteed top spot in their pool with one game still to play.
For the round of 16, they will face a best third-place side from one of the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, Tunisia stay on three group points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on a single point after registering a 1-1 draw in the day's other fixture.
The final pool matches will see Nigeria stay in Fes to play Uganda on Tuesday, while Tunisia return to Rabat to confront Tanzania.
A Nervy Conclusion
Ali Abdi drilled home from the penalty spot to give his team a glimmer of hope of earning a point.
The Super Eagles, finalists in the 2023 edition, become the next team after the Pharaohs to qualify for the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and supporters will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What seemed set to be a comfortable last period morphed into a tense conclusion.
Victor Osimhen had a goal disallowed for an infringement before opening the scoring right before half-time, precisely placing a glancing effort into the far post from an Ademola Lookman delivery.
The lead was doubled soon in the second period 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 third goal, only for the defender to steer a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the fightback.
The pivotal incident arrived when a looping cross struck the arm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with referee Boubou Traore awarding a penalty after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Despite Ali Abdi's confident conversion, Tunisia in the end fell short of pulling off a remarkable comeback.
Their fate remains in their own hands; a draw against Tanzania will be enough to secure progression, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to prevent a recurrence of the past group-stage exit that resulted in his previous resignation.
