The Super Eagles Book Afcon Knockout Spot In Spite of Fierce Carthage Eagles Fightback
Ex- African Footballer of the Year the Napoli star helped Nigeria build a 3-0 advantage, but they were compelled to hold on for a hard-fought victory.
The three-time champions survived a stunning comeback attempt from their opponents to advance 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 pool clash in the Moroccan city, holding a three-goal lead with only a quarter of an hour left thanks to goals from their attacking trio.
However, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a close-range finish from a Manchester United midfielder set-piece, sparking hopes of a turnaround.
The tension escalated when Tunisia were given a late penalty after a video assistant referee review identified a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back converted in the dying stages to create a frantic finale.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a stunning equalizer in added time, with their skipper heading a opportunity narrowly wide before a substitute guided a half-volley past the goal frame.
Clinching First Place
The victory ensures that the Super Eagles, champions of the tournament on three previous occasions, advance to six group points and are guaranteed top spot in Group C with one game left 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 remain on 3 points, with the East African teams tied on one point after playing out a 1-1 stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The final group fixtures will see Nigeria stay in Fes to play the Cranes on the next matchday, while Tunisia travel back to the capital to face the Taifa Stars.
A Nervy Finish
The Tunisian defender smashed home from the penalty spot to offer his team a glimmer of hope of snatching a point.
Nigeria, runners-up in the previous tournament, are the second team after Egypt to reach the next phase, but their manager and fans will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What seemed set to be a straightforward final quarter morphed into a nerve-wracking conclusion.
Victor Osimhen had a goal disallowed for an infringement before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of the interval, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the far post from an Atalanta winger delivery.
The advantage was doubled early in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to power home a header from a Lookman corner.
The number 9 then set up Lookman for the third goal, before the defender to steer a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the comeback.
The pivotal incident arrived when a high ball struck the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official pointing to the spot after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Despite the defender's confident conversion, the 2004 champions in the end came up just short of completing a remarkable recovery.
Tunisia's destiny is still in their own hands; a point against Tanzania will be enough to secure progression, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to prevent a repeat of the past group-stage exit that resulted in his departure.
