The Super Eagles of Nigeria secured a vital victory and a spot in the knockout stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after a thrilling 3-2 win over Tunisia at the Complexe Sportif de Fès in Morocco. The match, played on December 27, 2025, saw striker Victor Osimhen break his goal drought in a crucial performance that propelled Nigeria to the top of Group C.
Osimhen's Persistence Pays Off
The first half was a tale of frustration and eventual triumph for star forward Victor Osimhen. The Galatasaray striker saw an early header miss the target in the 8th minute and failed to convert another free header from a corner just three minutes later. His fortunes seemed to change in the 18th minute when he found the net, but the goal was correctly ruled out for offside.
Osimhen's struggle continued as another headed chance from a Calvin Bassey cross went astray in the 29th minute. However, just before halftime, his persistence was finally rewarded. In the 44th minute, Osimhen expertly converted a precise cross from Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman to give Nigeria a 1-0 lead and end his much-discussed scoring drought.
Super Eagles Dominate Second Half
Nigeria came out with renewed vigor after the break and quickly extended their lead. Captain Wilfred Ndidi scored his first-ever goal for the national team just five minutes into the second half, powerfully heading home another excellent delivery from Ademola Lookman for his second assist of the night.
The Super Eagles put the game seemingly out of reach in the 67th minute. This time, the roles were reversed as Victor Osimhen turned provider, setting up Ademola Lookman for Nigeria's third goal. It was Lookman's second goal of the tournament, cementing a brilliant individual performance.
Tunisia's Late Rally Falls Short
The Carthage Eagles refused to surrender and mounted a late comeback attempt. In the 74th minute, defender Montassar Talbi headed in a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick to pull one back for Tunisia. The pressure intensified in the closing stages when a VAR review confirmed a handball by Nigerian defender Bright Osayi-Samuel inside the box. Ali Abdi converted the resulting penalty in the 87th minute to set up a tense finale.
However, the Super Eagles managed the remaining minutes professionally to secure a 3-2 victory. The win guarantees Nigeria's qualification for the Round of 16 as group winners with one match to spare. Coach Eric Chelle's side will now face Uganda's Cranes in their final Group C match, playing only for pride and momentum.
The match was a significant response to pre-game criticism, notably from former Super Eagles star Celestine Babayaro, who had pointed out timing issues in Osimhen's runs. The striker's goal and assist served as a perfect rebuttal on the pitch. With this result, Nigeria continues its strong start to AFCON 2025, building confidence ahead of the knockout phase.
