🔗 Share this article Nigeria Secure Afcon Knockout Place In Spite of Fierce Tunisia Fightback Ex- African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen helped Nigeria build a 3-0 advantage, but the Super Eagles were compelled to defend resolutely for a narrow win. Nigeria weathered a dramatic comeback attempt from their opponents to advance to the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being held in the host nation. Jose Peseiro's side seemed to be in complete control in their Group C encounter in the Moroccan city, holding a 3-0 lead with only a quarter of an hour remaining courtesy of strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman. Yet, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a close-range finish from a Manchester United midfielder free-kick, sparking hopes of a turnaround. The tension escalated when the North Africans were awarded a spot-kick after a VAR review identified a handball by the Nigerian defender. Ali Abdi calmly slotted home in the 87th minute to create a frantic finale. The Carthage Eagles came agonizingly close from a stunning leveler in stoppage time, with their skipper directing a opportunity just past the post before Ismael Gharbi sent a bobbling volley past the goal frame. Clinching First Place This result ensures that the Super Eagles, champions of the competition on 3 past instances, advance to 6 group points and are assured top spot in their pool with a match still to be contested. In the next round, they will face a best third-place side from one of the other preliminary groups. Meanwhile, the 2004 champions stay on three points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on one point each after playing out a 1-1 stalemate earlier on Saturday. The final pool matches will see the group leaders stay in the city to take on the Cranes on the next matchday, while Tunisia travel back to Rabat to face the Taifa Stars. An Anxious Finish Ali Abdi drilled home from the penalty spot to offer his team a glimmer of hope of snatching a draw. The Super Eagles, finalists in the previous tournament, are the second nation after the Pharaohs to reach the knockout stage, but their manager and supporters will undoubtedly be feeling relieved. What looked like set to be a comfortable last period morphed into a nerve-wracking conclusion. The prolific striker had a effort ruled out for offside before breaking the deadlock right before the interval, precisely placing a glancing effort into the far post from an Ademola Lookman cross. The lead was doubled soon in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to thump in a powerful nod from a set-piece kick. Osimhen then turned provider his teammate for the seemingly decisive goal, before the defender to direct a powerful header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the comeback. The pivotal incident arrived when a looping cross hit the forearm of the full-back, with referee Boubou Traore pointing to the spot after reviewing the VAR monitor. Although the defender's confident conversion, Tunisia in the end came up just short of completing a remarkable recovery. Their fate is still in their own hands; a draw against Tanzania will be enough to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be eager to prevent a recurrence of the past group-stage exit that resulted in his previous resignation.