Nigeria’s Super Eagles secured qualification for the Round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after edging Tunisia 3–2 in a pulsating Group C encounter at the Fez Stadium on Saturday.
The three-time African champions appeared to be cruising after racing into a commanding 3–0 lead, courtesy of goals from Victor Osimhen, captain Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
However, a late Tunisian resurgence ensured a nervy finish in a match that lived up to its top-of-the-table billing.
Osimhen opened the scoring just before half-time, rising above defenders Ali Abdi and Montassar Talbi to power home a header from Lookman’s precise cross.
It was a deserved breakthrough after Nigeria dominated possession and territory for much of the opening period.
The Super Eagles doubled their advantage shortly after the restart, again exploiting Tunisia’s vulnerability in the air.
Lookman delivered another pinpoint corner which Ndidi met with a towering header to register his first international goal.
Nigeria struck a third on 67 minutes as Lookman capped a superb individual performance.
After being teed up by Osimhen, the Atalanta forward controlled the ball inside the box and rifled a shot past goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen off the post.
Tunisia, however, refused to capitulate. With 16 minutes remaining, Talbi pulled one back with a header from Hannibal Mejbri’s free-kick, swinging momentum in favour of the Carthage Eagles.
The North Africans further reduced the deficit three minutes from time when Abdi converted a penalty following a VAR review that ruled Bright Osayi-Samuel guilty of handball.
Tunisia pressed relentlessly during seven minutes of stoppage time and came agonisingly close to an equaliser, but Ferjani Sassi’s header and a late effort from substitute Ismael Gharbi both missed the target.
Earlier in the match, Osimhen had been a constant threat, dominating aerial battles and forcing Tunisia onto the back foot.
The Galatasaray striker had a goal ruled out for offside and narrowly missed with two headed efforts before finally breaking the deadlock.
The result leaves Nigeria top of Group C with six points from two matches, while Tunisia sit on three points.
Tanzania and Uganda each have one point ahead of the final round of group fixtures on Tuesday.
The clash marked the seventh AFCON meeting between Nigeria and Tunisia, with the Super Eagles now holding three victories in the rivalry.
