🔗 Share this article Nigeria Secure Africa Cup of Nations Last 16 Place Despite Fierce Tunisia Fightback Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in Nigeria establish a commanding lead, but they were forced to hold on for a hard-fought victory. Nigeria weathered a dramatic comeback attempt from their opponents to progress to the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in the host nation. The Super Eagles seemed to be cruising in their Group C clash in Fes, enjoying a 3-0 lead with only 17 minutes left thanks to goals from their attacking trio. However, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a close-range finish from a Manchester United midfielder free-kick, sparking hopes of a recovery. The tension escalated when the North Africans were given a late penalty after a video assistant referee review spotted a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the dying stages to create a frantic finale. Tunisia came agonizingly close from a last-gasp equalizer in stoppage time, with their skipper heading a opportunity narrowly wide before a substitute sent a bobbling volley past the upright. Securing First Place The victory means that the Super Eagles, champions of the competition on three previous occasions, move to 6 points and are guaranteed first place in Group C with one game left to be contested. In the next round, they will face a best third-place team from either Group A, B or F. Meanwhile, the 2004 champions stay on three group points, with the East African teams tied on a single point each after playing out a 1-1 draw earlier on Saturday. The concluding pool matches will see the group leaders stay in Fes to play Uganda on Tuesday, while Tunisia travel back to the capital to confront Tanzania. An Anxious Conclusion Ali Abdi drilled home from the penalty spot to offer Tunisia a glimmer of hope of earning a point. Nigeria, runners-up in the 2023 edition, become the next team after Egypt to qualify for the next phase, but their manager and fans will certainly be breathing a sigh of relief. What looked like set to be a straightforward last period morphed into a tense conclusion. Victor Osimhen had a effort disallowed for an infringement before opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time, precisely placing a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman delivery. The advantage was doubled soon in the second half when Wilfred Ndidi climbed above everyone to thump in a powerful nod from a set-piece kick. Osimhen then turned provider Lookman for the third goal, only for Montassar Talbi to direct a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the comeback. The key moment arrived when a high ball hit the arm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with referee Boubou Traore pointing to the spot after reviewing the pitchside screen. Despite the defender's confident conversion, Tunisia ultimately fell short of completing a remarkable comeback. Tunisia's destiny is still in their own hands; a draw against Tunisia will be sufficient to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to avoid a recurrence of the 2013 early elimination that resulted in his previous resignation.