The Super Eagles of Nigeria have booked its place in the Round of 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), after a pulsating 3–2 victory over Tunisia on Saturday night, at the Complexe Sportif de Fès in Morocco.
Nigeria started talisman Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams upfront in a two-man attack, while Ademola Lookman was supporting behind the pair.
After 44 minutes, Osimhen opened the scoring for Nigeria after rising highest to power home a header from a Lookman cross.
The goal settled the nerves and Nigeria went into the break on the front foot.
The second half belonged to Atalanta forward Lookman as he was electric in the middle of the park, assisting captain Wilfried Ndidi, who scored in the 50th minute to extend Nigeria’s lead.
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The Nigerians were 2 goals up and still bombing forward looking to consolidate its lead and were rewarded. Osimhen returned the favour to assist Lookman, who fired home to make the scores 3-0 in favour of Nigeria.
Tunisia, refusing to roll over, struck back in the 74th minute through a header from Montassar Talibi, making the scores 3-1.
The Carthage Eagles were then awarded a penalty following a video assistant referee (VAR) review, for a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. Defender Ali Abdi stepped up to score in the 87th minute for Tunisia, setting up a frantic finale.
However, Nigeria stood firm to see out the game as the matched finished 3-2.
In a match that swayed back and forth, Nigeria’s attacking prowess ultimately overcame Tunisia’s defensive grit, ending the bogey team curse that had haunted the Super Eagles in previous tournaments.
The Super Eagles’ second straight victory moves them clear at the top of Group C with six (6) points and has mathematically qualified for the knockout stages. They will play their final group game with the luxury of rotating the squad.
Elsewhere in Group C, the battle behind Nigeria remains wide open. Tunisia stay second on three (3) points, while Tanzania and Uganda remain locked on one (1) point apiece, setting up a tense final round where qualification hopes still hang in the balance.
Saturday’s AFCON results
Benin 1-0 Botswana
Senegal 1-1 DR Congo
Uganda 1-1 Tanzania
Nigeria 3-2 Tunisia.