🔗 Share this article Nigeria Book Africa Cup of Nations Knockout Place Despite Late Carthage Eagles Comeback Former African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in his team build a commanding advantage, before the Super Eagles were compelled to hold on for a hard-fought victory. The three-time champions survived a dramatic comeback attempt from Tunisia to advance to the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Morocco. The Super Eagles seemed to be cruising in their pool encounter in the Moroccan city, holding a three-goal lead with just a quarter of an hour remaining courtesy of strikes from their attacking trio. Yet, Montassar Talbi reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, sparking hopes of a turnaround. The tension escalated when Tunisia were given a spot-kick after a video assistant referee review identified a handling offense by the Nigerian defender. Ali Abdi calmly slotted home in the dying stages to set up a nail-biting finale. Tunisia came agonizingly close from a last-gasp equalizer in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a chance just past the post before Ismael Gharbi sent a bobbling volley past the goal frame. Securing First Place The victory means that Nigeria, champions of the competition on three previous occasions, move to six points and are guaranteed first place in their pool with one game still to be contested. In the next round, they will face a third-placed side from one of Group A, B or F. Meanwhile, Tunisia remain on three points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on one point after playing out a 1-1 stalemate earlier on Saturday. The final pool matches will see Nigeria stay in Fes to play Uganda on Tuesday, while the Eagles of Carthage return to the capital to face Tanzania. A Nervy Conclusion The Tunisian defender smashed home from the penalty spot to give his team a glimmer of hope of snatching a draw. Nigeria, runners-up in the 2023 tournament, are the next nation after Egypt to qualify for the knockout stage, but coach Eric Chelle and supporters will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief. What seemed set to be a comfortable final quarter transformed into a nerve-wracking conclusion. The prolific striker had a goal disallowed for offside before opening the scoring right before the interval, expertly guiding a header into the far post from an Atalanta winger cross. The advantage was doubled early in the second half when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to thump in a powerful nod from a Lookman kick. Osimhen then set up his teammate for the seemingly decisive goal, before the defender to steer a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the fightback. The pivotal incident arrived when a high ball struck the arm of the full-back, with the official pointing to the spot after reviewing the VAR monitor. Although the defender's confident conversion, Tunisia in the end fell short of completing a stirring recovery. Their fate remains in their own hands; a point against Tanzania will be sufficient to secure progression, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to prevent a recurrence of the 2013 early elimination that led to his previous resignation.