Nigeria Secure Africa Cup of Nations Last 16 Place Despite Fierce Tunisia Fightback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in his team build a 3-0 advantage, before they were forced to defend resolutely for a hard-fought win.
Nigeria survived a dramatic comeback attempt from Tunisia to progress to the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in the host nation.
The Super Eagles appeared to be cruising in their Group C clash in the Moroccan city, holding a three-goal cushion with only 17 minutes remaining thanks to strikes from their attacking trio.
Yet, a Tunisian defender reduced the deficit with a powerful header from a Manchester United midfielder set-piece, sparking hopes of a turnaround.
The drama intensified when the North Africans were given a late penalty after a video assistant referee review spotted a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the dying stages to set up a nail-biting finale.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a stunning equalizer in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a opportunity just past the post before a substitute sent a bobbling volley wide of the goal frame.
Clinching First Place
This result means that Nigeria, champions of the tournament on three previous occasions, move to six points and are assured top spot in Group C with one game left to play.
In the next round, they will meet a best third-place team from one of Group A, B or F.
In the other match, the 2004 champions stay on 3 group points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on a single point each after registering a one-all stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The final pool fixtures will see Nigeria stay in Fes to take on Uganda on Tuesday, while the Eagles of Carthage return to the capital to face Tanzania.
An Anxious Finish
The Tunisian defender smashed the ball from 12 yards to give Tunisia a glimmer of hope of snatching a point.
The Super Eagles, finalists in the previous tournament, become the second team after Egypt to qualify for the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and supporters will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a straightforward final quarter transformed into a nerve-wracking affair.
Victor Osimhen had a effort ruled out for an infringement before breaking the deadlock right before the interval, expertly guiding a header into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman delivery.
The advantage was extended early in the second half when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to thump in a header from a set-piece corner.
Osimhen then turned provider Lookman for the seemingly decisive goal, before Montassar Talbi to steer a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the fightback.
The key moment arrived when a looping cross struck the arm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with referee Boubou Traore pointing to the spot after consulting the pitchside screen.
Despite the defender's confident conversion, Tunisia in the end fell short of completing a remarkable comeback.
Their fate is still in their own hands; a point against Tanzania will be enough to see them through, and their coach will be eager to avoid a repeat of the past group-stage exit that resulted in his departure.
