Nigeria reach Afcon last 16 despite Tunisia fightback

Nigeria reach Afcon last 16 despite Tunisia fightback: Nigeria resisted a late surge of Tunisian defiance to secure passage into the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, prevailing in a contest that transformed from procession to panic in the Moroccan city of Fes.

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The Super Eagles appeared to have extinguished all resistance when they surged into a commanding 3–0 advantage with just over a quarter of an hour remaining. Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman had each found the net, carving open the North Africans with authority and intent. Yet Tunisia, true to their combative pedigree, refused to dissolve quietly.

Montassar Talbi ignited belief with a towering header, rising to meet a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick and glance the ball home. Moments later, anxiety rippled through the Nigerian ranks when a VAR review adjudged Bright Osayi-Samuel guilty of handling inside the area. Ali Abdi made no mistake from the spot in the 87th minute, trimming the deficit to a single goal and plunging the finale into chaos.

Tunisia came agonisingly close to scripting a dramatic equaliser in stoppage time. Captain Ferjani Sassi drifted into space only to send his header inches wide, while Ismael Gharbi later skewed a bouncing volley past the post as Nigerian hearts skipped several beats.

Ultimately, Nigeria survived.

The victory propels the three-time African champions to six points, sealing top position in Group C with a match still to play. Their reward is a knockout tie against one of the third-placed teams from Group A, B or F. Tunisia, meanwhile, sit on three points, ahead of Uganda and Tanzania, who shared the spoils earlier in the day.

Nigeria remain in Fes to face Uganda on Tuesday, while Tunisia travel to Rabat for a decisive encounter with Tanzania, both fixtures kicking off simultaneously.

Tunisia nearly puncture Nigeria’s calm

For long spells, this encounter resembled a statement performance from the 2023 runners-up. Nigeria, already victorious in their opener against Tanzania, controlled the narrative and appeared set for a serene conclusion. Tunisia, fresh from dismantling Uganda, were instead left chasing shadows.

Osimhen had already been denied by the offside flag before striking just before the interval. Timing his movement impeccably, he threaded a header between two defenders and into the bottom corner, converting Lookman’s sumptuous delivery from the left.

The advantage doubled shortly after the restart. Ndidi, seizing his moment, climbed above his marker to thunder home a header from another Lookman corner, registering his first international goal in emphatic fashion.

Moments later, Osimhen turned provider, laying the ball into Lookman’s path for Nigeria’s third. At that stage, the contest appeared settled.

But Talbi’s intervention shifted momentum, and the subsequent penalty breathed life into Tunisia’s pursuit. Although Abdi’s strike set nerves jangling, the Carthage Eagles ultimately ran out of time, their late flurry falling just short of rewriting the outcome.

Despite the defeat, Tunisia remain well positioned to progress. A draw against Tanzania would suffice to book their place in the knockout rounds. For head coach Sami Trabelsi, there is added incentive to navigate safely through the group memories of the disastrous 2013 campaign, which ended in an early exit and his resignation, still linger.

Nigeria march on, bruised but unbeaten, reminded that at Afcon, dominance guarantees nothing until the final whistle falls.