The Super Eagles held off a late fightback.
Nigeria clinched progress to the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations as they won a thrilling encounter with Tunisia 3-2 in Fez.
The Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup was in stark contrast to the fortunes of Tunisia, who clinched their place in the finals in North America without conceding a goal.
Yet the Group C clash of two traditional African heavyweights delivered an engrossing, goal-laden affair, which Nigeria appeared to have in complete control after Victor Osimhen, Wilfried Ndidi and the excellent Ademola Lookman gave them a 3-0 lead.
Tunisia, though, displayed great resilience, with Montassar Talbi pulling one back before Ali Abdi’s penalty set the stage for a grandstand finish, only for Nigeria to hang on to make it six points from two games.
Nigeria take command
Nigeria were the better team throughout the first half, though the profligacy of Osimhen was a frustration for the Super Eagles early on.
He headed narrowly over from a right-wing cross from Akor Adams before spurning a more difficult chance with another off-target header.
Osimhen put the ball in the net in the 18th minute, but only after clearly straying offside as Nigeria struggled to make their superiority pay.
Tunisia appeared to be growing into the game as the half went on, but they fell behind in the 44th minute when a superb left-wing cross from Ademola Lookman got the finish it deserved from Osimhen, whose far-post header proved too strong for Aymen Dahmen.
Dahmen was beaten again five minutes into the second half, Ndidi rising to meet Lookman’s outstanding delivery from a corner and double the Super Eagles’ advantage.
The game appeared to be beyond doubt when Osimhen surged down the right and pulled the ball back for Lookman, who displayed great patience and composure to jink past a defender before unleashing a close-range shot that Dahmen could only turn in off the post.
Tunisia comeback falls short
Yet Tunisia found life after going 3-0 behind, and Talbi gave them hope of a remarkable comeback in the 74th minute.
The Lorient defender met Hannibal Mejbri’s free-kick with a powerful header into the bottom-right corner, and Nigeria nerves were frayed further three minutes from the end of normal time.
Bright Osayi-Samuel was struck on the arm by a ball into the box as he grappled with an attacker and, after being sent to the pitchside monitor, referee Boubou Traore pointed to the spot.
Ali Abdi made no mistake with an emphatic penalty, but Tunisia could not make the most of seven additional minutes, Ferjani Sassi twice going agonisingly close as Nigeria clung on to progress.
