🔗 Share this article Nigeria Secure Afcon Knockout Place In Spite of Fierce Carthage Eagles Fightback Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star helped his team establish a 3-0 advantage, but they were forced to defend resolutely for a hard-fought victory. The three-time champions survived a dramatic late rally from Tunisia to advance to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Morocco. Jose Peseiro's side seemed to be in complete control in their Group C encounter in Fes, holding a 3-0 cushion with only a quarter of an hour remaining thanks to goals from their attacking trio. Yet, a Tunisian defender pulled one back with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, sparking hopes of a turnaround. The drama intensified when Tunisia were awarded a spot-kick after a video assistant referee review identified a handling offense by the Nigerian defender. Ali Abdi calmly slotted home in the 87th minute to create a frantic finale. The Carthage Eagles were inches away from a last-gasp leveler in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a opportunity just past the post before a substitute sent a half-volley wide of the upright. Securing First Place The victory means that the Super Eagles, champions of the tournament on three past instances, advance to 6 group points and are guaranteed first place in their pool with one game still to play. For the round of 16, they will meet a best third-place side from one of the other preliminary groups. In the other match, Tunisia remain on three points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on one point after playing out a 1-1 draw earlier on Saturday. The final group matches will see the group leaders remain in the city to play the Cranes on Tuesday, while Tunisia return to Rabat to face Tanzania. A Nervy Conclusion Ali Abdi drilled home from the penalty spot to offer Tunisia a glimmer of hope of snatching a draw. Nigeria, runners-up in the previous tournament, are the second team after Egypt to reach the knockout stage, but their manager and supporters will certainly be breathing a sigh of relief. What looked like set to be a straightforward final quarter morphed into a tense affair. Victor Osimhen had a effort disallowed for an infringement before opening the scoring on the stroke of the interval, expertly guiding a header into the far post from an Atalanta winger cross. The lead was doubled early in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi climbed above everyone to power home a powerful nod from a set-piece kick. Osimhen then set up Lookman for the seemingly decisive goal, only for the defender to steer a powerful header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the fightback. The key incident arrived when a looping cross hit the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official awarding a penalty after reviewing the VAR monitor. Despite the defender's successful penalty, the 2004 champions in the end fell short of completing a stirring recovery. Tunisia's destiny remains in their own hands; a point against Tunisia will be sufficient to secure progression, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to avoid a recurrence of the past group-stage exit that led to his departure.