🔗 Share this article The Super Eagles Secure Africa Cup of Nations Last 16 Place In Spite of Fierce Tunisia Fightback Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star helped his team establish a 3-0 advantage, but they were compelled to hold on for a hard-fought victory. Nigeria survived a dramatic late rally from Tunisia to advance to the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Morocco. The Super Eagles appeared to be cruising in their pool encounter in Fes, enjoying a 3-0 cushion with just a quarter of an hour remaining courtesy of goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman. However, Montassar Talbi reduced the deficit with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, igniting hopes of a recovery. The tension intensified when the North Africans were given a spot-kick after a VAR check identified a handling offense by the Nigerian defender. Ali Abdi calmly slotted home in the 87th minute to create a nail-biting finale. Tunisia came agonizingly close from a stunning leveler in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a opportunity just past the post before a substitute guided a bobbling volley wide of the goal frame. Clinching First Place The victory means that Nigeria, winners of the competition on three previous occasions, move to six points and are guaranteed top spot in their pool with one game left to be contested. In the next round, they will meet a third-placed team from either the other preliminary groups. In the other match, the 2004 champions stay on three group points, with the East African teams tied on one point after registering a one-all draw earlier on Saturday. The final group fixtures will see Nigeria remain in Fes to take on Uganda on the next matchday, while Tunisia travel back to the capital to face the Taifa Stars. A Nervy Conclusion The Tunisian defender smashed the ball from 12 yards to offer his team hope of earning a draw. The Super Eagles, runners-up in the previous edition, are the second nation after Egypt to qualify for the next phase, but their manager and fans will certainly be feeling relieved. What seemed set to be a comfortable last period morphed into a tense conclusion. The prolific striker had a goal disallowed for an infringement before opening the scoring on the stroke of the interval, precisely placing a glancing effort into the far post from an Ademola Lookman cross. The lead was doubled early in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to power home a header from a Lookman corner. The number 9 then turned provider Lookman for the third goal, only for Montassar Talbi to steer a powerful header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the comeback. The key moment came when a high ball hit the arm of the full-back, with the official pointing to the spot after reviewing the VAR monitor. Although Ali Abdi's confident conversion, the 2004 champions ultimately fell short of completing a stirring comeback. Their fate is still in their own hands; a point against Tanzania will be enough to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to prevent a recurrence of the past group-stage exit that led to his previous resignation.