The Super Eagles of Nigeria have secured their place in the knockout stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after a pulsating 3-2 victory over Tunisia on Saturday night.
In a match that swung from dominance to desperation, Nigeria’s attacking brilliance built a three-goal cushion before a spirited Tunisian fightback set up a nail-biting finale at the Fez Stadium.
After a nervy opening exchange, Nigeria broke the deadlock just before halftime.
Victor Osimhen, a constant aerial threat throughout the tournament, rose majestically to head home a pinpoint cross from Ademola Lookman in the 44th minute, sending the Nigerian contingent in the stands into raptures.
The Super Eagles carried that momentum immediately into the second half.
Just five minutes after the restart, captain Wilfred Ndidi towered above the Tunisian defense to power in a header from a Lookman corner, doubling the lead.
The game appeared to be put to bed in the 67th minute when Lookman capped a Man-of-the-Match performance with a goal of his own.
Osimhen turned provider, cutting the ball back for the Atalanta forward, who danced past his marker to rifle a left-footed strike into the net, making it 3-0.
The Carthage Eagles Strike Back
With the game seemingly won, Nigeria’s intensity dipped, allowing Tunisia a route back into the contest.
The North Africans found a lifeline in the 75th minute when Montassar Talbi nodded in a precise free kick from Hannibal Mejbri.
The tension in Fez skyrocketed in the 87th minute when Tunisia was awarded a penalty after a VAR review judged Bright Osayi-Samuel to have handled the ball in the box.
Ali Abdi stepped up and converted the spot-kick, reducing the deficit to one and setting the stage for a frantic six minutes of stoppage time.
Despite the late onslaught, the Super Eagles' defense, marshaled by goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, held firm to secure all three points.
Coach Chelle Praises "Grit"
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle praised his side's resilience but warned against complacency.
"Our identity is based on intensity and aggression. For 75 minutes, we were perfect," Chelle said in the post-match press conference.
"The last 15 minutes are a lesson for us. In tournament football, you cannot switch off until the final whistle."
With six points from two games, Nigeria now sits atop Group C and has guaranteed a spot in the Round of 16.
The Super Eagles will look to seal the top spot in Group C when they face the struggling Uganda Cranes in their final group match on Tuesday.
Elsewhere in AFCON
It was a historic day elsewhere in the tournament. In Group D, Benin Republic claimed their first-ever AFCON finals victory with a 1-0 win over Botswana, thanks to a deflected strike from Yohan Roche.
Meanwhile, defending champions Senegal were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo. Cédric Bakambu gave the Leopards a shock lead before Sadio Mané rescued a point for the Teranga Lions.
In the East African derby, Uganda and Tanzania played out a 1-1 stalemate, leaving both sides with work to do in their final group fixtures.
