AFCON 2025: Nigeria survive Tunisia scare, fly into knockout stage

Nigeria on Saturday survived Tunisia’s scare in the second round match of the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a 3-2 win, a result that saw the Super Eagles fly into the knockout stage.

The thrilling Group C victory over Tunisia at the Complexe Sportif de Fes, Morocco saw Ademola Lookman emerge as the Man of the Match.

Victor Osimhen opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time, heading home Lookman’s cross after the Super Eagles squandered several early chances.

Captain Wilfred Ndidi doubled Nigeria’s lead five minutes into the second half, nodding in from Lookman’s inswinging corner to score his maiden international goal.

Lookman then capped a brilliant display with Nigeria’s third goal in the 67th minute, finishing calmly after an unselfish assist from Osimhen to put the Super Eagles firmly in control.

Tunisia pulled one back in the 74th minute through Montassar Talbi’s header, before Ali Abdi converted a late penalty to set up a tense finish.

The Super Eagles, however, held on for their second consecutive win of the tournament, confirming their place in the AFCON 2025 Round of 16.

Osimhen’s goal was his 32nd in 46 appearances for Nigeria, leaving him five goals shy of the late Rashidi Yekini’s all-time national record.

Ndidi’s dominant midfield display and landmark goal further underlined Nigeria’s authority, as the Eagles celebrated another morale-boosting win in Morocco.

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Nigeria now top the AFCON Group C table with six points after securing two wins from two games played so far.

Tunisia with three points are second on the table, while the Cranes of Uganda and Taifa Stars of Tanzania who played a 1-1 draw in the other Group C encounter are third and fourth on the table with one point each.

The Super Eagles meeting with the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia in the group stage of the 2025 AFCON makes it the seventh time they are meeting at the tournament.

Eagles defeated them three times, while Tunisia won once.

Their other two encounters ended in penalty shootouts, with both sides winning one each.

The Super Eagles will take on Uganda in their last Group game on Tuesday by 4pm in Fes, while Tunisia will return to Rabat to face Tanzania at the same time.

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