AFCON 2025: Nigeria survive late scare against Tunisia to reach last 16
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Super Eagles' stars fire Eric Chelle’s side into AFCON 2025 knockouts
The Nigerian national football team became the second side after Egypt to book their spot in the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations by holding on to defeat Tunisia 3-2 in their second Group C match of the competition in Fez on Saturday night.
It was the seventh time that the Super Eagles and the Carthage Eagles met each other in Africa’s premier tournament, with the West Africans having won three previous meetings, while the side from the north of the continent won one, and two games ended level.
After a wasteful performance in their opening match of the competition, Victor Osimhen bounced back with an impressive performance, scoring his side’s opening goal to confirm our AFCON 2025 predictions, while proving a handful, particularly in aerial duels throughout the match.
Five minutes into the second period, Eric Chelle’s side extended their advantage from a corner kick thanks to a Wilfred Ndidi strike, while Ademola Lookman seemingly took the team out of sight by netting their third of the night just after the hour mark.
However, Tunisia, buoyed on by over 20,000 fans at the Fez Stadium, came to life in the final quarter of the match and pulled one back in the 74th minute when centre-back Motassar Talbi headed beyond Stanley Nwabali from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick.
The Carthage Eagles then set up a grandstand finish in the final five minutes after a VAR intervention deemed that a dropping ball struck the arm of Bright Osayi-Samuel inside the penalty area, and Ali Al-Abdi stuck away the resulting penalty.
The North African nation had a golden opportunity to level proceedings in the dying moments, but Ferjani Sassi was unable to convert an unopposed header. With two wins in two, Nigeria are now guaranteed a spot in the last 16, while Tunisia need at least a point from their final group-stage match against Tanzania.
Lookman shines again but questions over Nigeria’s defence remain
After scoring the winner with a stunning strike against Tanzania in their opening match of AFCON 2025, Ademola Lookman was once again the standout performer for Nigeria, as he set up Osimhen and Ndidi for their goals before finding the back of the net himself with the team’s third of the night.
One major question in the lead-up to AFCON was whether Lookman would make an impact amid a poor season for Atalanta, and so far, the former African Player of the Year has answered those questions emphatically, standing out as the team’s best player in Morocco.
However, while the Super Eagles’ attack has largely lived up to expectations so far, major concerns are growing around their defensive vulnerabilities, following underwhelming performances against Tanzania, Tunisia, and in the lead-up to AFCON 2025.
Nigeria have failed to maintain a clean sheet in their last five matches across all competitions and have conceded in their last four AFCON games. Additionally, fans have provided mixed reactions toward Stanley Nwabali’s performances in goal.
The Super Eagles’ defence will face one more group-stage test on Tuesday, December 30, against Uganda before turning their attention to the last 16, where they will face one of the best-finishing third-placed teams on January 5 in Fez.
