Nigeria Hold Off Tunisia in Five-Goal Thriller to Seal AFCON 2025 Knockout Spot
Nigeria booked their place in the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after edging Tunisia 3–2 in a pulsating Group C encounter that swung from Super Eagles dominance to a tense late scramble.
The Super Eagles looked firmly in control after racing into a three-goal lead, but a spirited Tunisian fightback in the final quarter turned the contest into a nail-biter before Nigeria held on for a crucial victory.
Nigeria struck first on the stroke of half-time when Victor Osimhen powered home a header from close range, rewarding the Super Eagles’ growing pressure and sending them into the break with a deserved advantage.
The momentum continued immediately after the restart. Just five minutes into the second half, Wilfred Ndidi doubled Nigeria’s lead, rising highest to nod in from a set-piece and put Tunisia on the back foot. The breakthrough opened the game, and Nigeria capitalised again in the 67th minute when Ademola Lookman finished clinically to make it 3–0, seemingly killing off the contest.
However, Tunisia refused to surrender. Centre-back Montassar Talbi pulled one back in the 74th minute with a well-placed header, igniting belief among the North Africans. The pressure intensified late on, and Tunisia were awarded a penalty after a VAR review. Ali Abdi calmly converted in the 87th minute to reduce the deficit to 3–2 and set up a frantic finale.
Nigeria were forced to defend deep in the closing minutes, but they held their nerve to see out the game and claim all three points.
Goalscorer Victor Osimhen also highlighted the importance of the result rather than the late scare.
“AFCON games are never easy,” Osimhen said. “What matters is that we stayed together and got the win. We’ll improve as the tournament goes on.”
Tunisia coach Jalel Kadri lamented his side’s slow start but praised their response.
“We gave Nigeria too much respect early on,” Kadri said. “But the reaction showed our character. Now we must focus on the final group game.”
The victory takes Nigeria to six points from two matches, guaranteeing a place in the Round of 16 and putting the Super Eagles in a strong position to finish top of Group C. Tunisia, now on three points, must win their final group fixture to keep their qualification hopes alive.
The match lived up to its billing as one of the group’s standout encounters, a reminder of AFCON’s unpredictability and the fine margins between control and chaos at the continent’s biggest football stage.
