🔗 Share this article The Super Eagles Book Afcon Last 16 Spot Despite Fierce Carthage Eagles Fightback Former Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped Nigeria build a commanding advantage, before the Super Eagles were forced to hold on for a hard-fought win. Nigeria survived a stunning late rally from Tunisia to advance to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being held in Morocco. The Super Eagles appeared to be in complete control in their pool encounter in Fes, holding a three-goal lead with only a quarter of an hour left courtesy of goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman. Yet, Montassar Talbi reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Manchester United midfielder set-piece, igniting hopes of a recovery. The drama intensified when Tunisia were given a late penalty after a video assistant referee check spotted a handling offense by the Nigerian defender. The left-back calmly slotted home in the dying stages to set up a nail-biting finale. Tunisia came agonizingly close from a last-gasp equalizer in added time, with their skipper heading a chance narrowly wide before a substitute guided a half-volley past the upright. Clinching First Place This result ensures that the Super Eagles, winners of the competition on 3 past instances, advance to 6 group points and are guaranteed first place in their pool with a match still to be contested. In the next round, they will face a third-placed team from either the other preliminary groups. In the other match, Tunisia stay on three group points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on a single point each after playing out a 1-1 stalemate in the day's other fixture. The final pool fixtures will see the group leaders remain in Fes to play the Cranes on the next matchday, while Tunisia return to the capital to face Tanzania. A Nervy Finish Ali Abdi smashed the ball from 12 yards to offer his team a glimmer of hope of snatching a draw. The Super Eagles, finalists in the 2023 edition, are the next nation after Egypt to qualify for the knockout stage, but their manager and fans will certainly be feeling relieved. What seemed set to be a straightforward last period morphed into a tense affair. The prolific striker had a goal disallowed for offside before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, precisely placing a header into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger delivery. The lead was doubled soon in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to thump in a powerful nod from a Lookman corner. The number 9 then set up his teammate for the third goal, before the defender to direct a powerful header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the fightback. The pivotal incident arrived when a high ball struck the arm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official awarding a penalty after consulting the VAR monitor. Although Ali Abdi's successful penalty, Tunisia in the end fell short of pulling off a remarkable recovery. Their fate remains in their own hands; a draw against Tanzania will be sufficient to secure progression, and their coach will be eager to avoid a recurrence of the past early elimination that led to his departure.