Nigeria on Saturday sealed qualification for the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a thrilling 3-2 Group C victory over Tunisia at the Complexe Sportif de Fes, Morocco.
Victor Osimhen opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time, heading home Ademola Lookman’s cross after the Super Eagles squandered several early chances.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi doubled Nigeria’s lead five minutes into the second half, nodding in from Lookman’s inswinging corner to score his maiden international goal.
Lookman then capped a brilliant display with Nigeria’s third goal in the 67th minute, finishing calmly after an unselfish assist from Osimhen to put the Super Eagles firmly in control.
Tunisia pulled one back in the 74th minute through Montassar Talbi’s header, before Ali Abdi converted a late penalty to set up a tense finish.
The Super Eagles, however, held on for their second consecutive win of the tournament, confirming their place in the AFCON 2025 round of 16.
Osimhen’s goal was his 32nd in 46 appearances for Nigeria, leaving him five goals shy of the late Rashidi Yekini’s all-time national record.
Ndidi’s dominant midfield display and landmark goal further underlined Nigeria’s authority, as the Eagles celebrated another morale-boosting win in Morocco.
Nigeria now top the AFCON Group C table with six points after securing two wins from two games played so far.
Tunisia with three points are second on the table, while the Cranes of Uganda and Taifa Stars of Tanzania who played a 1-1 draw in the other Group C encounter are third and fourth on the table with one point each.
In group D, Benin Republic defeated Botswana 1-0 to keep their hope of making it to the round of 16 alive, while Senegal drew 1-1 with DR Congo in a highly explosive encounter.
Speaking after the match, Frank Onyeka who expressed his disappointment over the two goals conceded by the Eagles, said the team could do better.
“I was disappointed that Tunisia got the two goals especially the penalty and set piece.I think the performance was good, we tried to follow the instruction,” he said.
He said that the team would approach the the last group match against Uganda with the way they played Tunisia.
The Super Eagles meeting with Tunisia in the group stage of the 2025 AFCON makes it the seventh time they are meeting at the tournament.
Eagles defeated them three times, while Tunisia won once. Their other two encounters ended in penalty shootouts, with both sides winning one each.
The Super Eagles will take on Uganda in their last Group game on Tuesday by 4 p.m. in Fes, while Tunisia will return to Rabat to face Tanzania at the same time. (NAN)
