Nigeria booked an emphatic passage into the knockout stage of the Africa Cup of Nations with a pulsating 3–2 victory over Tunisia in Fez on Wednesday night, as the Super Eagles once again underlined their credentials as serious title contenders.
In a high-octane Group C encounter brimming with intensity and attacking flair, goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman proved decisive, sealing Nigeria’s second consecutive win and guaranteeing their place in the Round of 16 with a game to spare.
The Super Eagles struck first just before the interval when Osimhen rose highest to power home a commanding header in the 44th minute, rewarding Nigeria’s sustained pressure and dominance in possession. The goal unsettled the North Africans and provided the perfect platform for a blistering start to the second half.
Barely five minutes after the restart, Ndidi doubled Nigeria’s advantage, latching onto a loose ball at the edge of the area and firing a low effort beyond the reach of the Tunisian goalkeeper to make it 2–0 in the 50th minute.
Nigeria continued to dictate the tempo and were rewarded again in the 66th minute when Lookman produced a moment of quality, curling a composed finish into the net to seemingly put the contest beyond Tunisia’s reach.
However, the Carthage Eagles refused to capitulate. Mohamed Talbi reduced the deficit in the 75th minute, injecting fresh belief into the Tunisian camp and setting up a nervy finale. That tension intensified three minutes from time when Ali Abdi converted from the penalty spot in the 87th minute, following a foul in the Nigerian box.
Despite the late scare, Nigeria held their nerve in the closing moments, expertly managing the game to secure all three points and preserve their perfect record in the group.
The victory lifts Nigeria to the top of Group C with six points from two matches, confirming their qualification for the Round of 16 and reinforcing their growing momentum in the tournament.
For Tunisia, the defeat leaves their qualification hopes hanging by a thread, with little margin for error in their remaining fixture.
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