In a high-stakes Group C encounter that lived up to its billing, Nigeria’s Super Eagles became the second team to secure a spot in the AFCON Round of 16. Despite a commanding three-goal lead, Nigeria had to weather a ferocious late comeback from Tunisia to emerge 3-2 victors at the Fes Stadium on Saturday.
A Dominant Start: The Osimhen Show
Following a lackluster performance in their opening match against Tanzania, the Super Eagles entered the pitch looking like a “transformed team.” From the opening whistle, Nigeria dictated the tempo, utilizing their physical advantage and superior aerial presence.
Victor Osimhen was the focal point of the Nigerian attack. Wearing his signature protective mask, the Galatasaray striker was a constant menace to the Tunisian backline:
- Early Pressure: Within the first 20 minutes, Osimhen had already missed two headers and seen a clinical finish ruled out for a marginal offside.
- The Breakthrough (44′): Just before the interval, the deadlock was finally broken. In a sequence featuring two generations of African excellence, 2024 Player of the Year Ademola Lookman delivered a pinpoint cross, allowing 2023 winner Osimhen to rise above Ali Abdi and Montassar Talbi to power a header home.
Consolidating the Lead
The Super Eagles carried their momentum into the second half, ruthlessly exposing Tunisia’s inability to defend set-pieces.
- Ndidi’s Milestone (50′): Five minutes after the restart, Lookman turned provider again. His curling corner found captain Wilfred Ndidi, who out-jumped goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen to record his first-ever international goal.
- Lookman’s Clinical Finish (67′): The duo swapped roles for the third goal. Osimhen turned creator, teeing up Lookman inside the box. The Atalanta forward showed composure, controlling the ball before drilling a low shot off the post and into the net.
The Tunisian Resurrection
Leading 3-0 with 20 minutes to go, Nigeria appeared to be cruising. However, Tunisia—facing potential elimination—abandoned their defensive shell for an all-out offensive.
- The Spark (74′): Tunisia clawed one back when Montassar Talbi took advantage of a lapse in Nigerian marking to head home a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick.
- VAR Drama (87′): Tension reached a boiling point when a VAR review penalized Bright Samuel for a handball inside the area. Ali Abdi stepped up and converted the penalty, reducing the deficit to a single goal and silencing the Nigerian supporters.
A Frantic Finale
The fourth official signaled seven minutes of added time, turning the match into a survival test for the Super Eagles. Tunisia had two golden opportunities to snatch a draw:
- Captain Ferjani Sassi saw a glancing header shave the post.
- Substitute Ismael Gharbi found space on the edge of the box, but his goal-bound effort whistled just wide of the target.
Group C Outlook
The victory leaves Nigeria at the summit of the group with a perfect six points. Tunisia remains in second with three points, while Tanzania and Uganda trail with one point each. All eyes now turn to Tuesday’s final group fixtures to see who will join Nigeria and Egypt in the knockout stages.
