The Tremendous Eagles held off a late fightback.
Nigeria clinched progress to the final 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations as they gained an exhilarating encounter with Tunisia 3-2 in Fez.
The Tremendous Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup was in stark distinction to the fortunes of Tunisia, who clinched their place within the finals in North America with out conceding a aim.
But the Group C conflict of two conventional African heavyweights delivered an engrossing, goal-laden affair, which Nigeria appeared to have in full management after Victor Osimhen, Wilfried Ndidi and the wonderful Ademola Lookman gave them a 3-0 lead.
Tunisia, although, displayed nice resilience, with Montassar Talbi pulling one again earlier than Ali Abdi’s penalty set the stage for a grandstand end, just for Nigeria to hold on to make it six factors from two video games.
Nigeria take command
Nigeria have been the higher staff all through the primary half, although the profligacy of Osimhen was a frustration for the Tremendous Eagles early on.
He headed narrowly over from a right-wing cross from Akor Adams earlier than spurning a harder likelihood with one other off-target header.
Osimhen put the ball within the web within the 18th minute, however solely after clearly straying offside as Nigeria struggled to make their superiority pay.
Tunisia seemed to be rising into the sport because the half went on, however they fell behind within the forty fourth minute when an excellent left-wing cross from Ademola Lookman obtained the end it deserved from Osimhen, whose far-post header proved too sturdy for Aymen Dahmen.
Dahmen was crushed once more 5 minutes into the second half, Ndidi rising to fulfill Lookman’s excellent supply from a nook and double the Tremendous Eagles’ benefit.
The sport seemed to be past doubt when Osimhen surged down the appropriate and pulled the ball again for Lookman, who displayed nice persistence and composure to jink previous a defender earlier than unleashing a close-range shot that Dahmen may solely flip in off the submit.
Tunisia comeback falls quick
But Tunisia discovered life after going 3-0 behind, and Talbi gave them hope of a exceptional comeback within the 74th minute.
The Lorient defender met Hannibal Mejbri’s free-kick with a strong header into the bottom-right nook, and Nigeria nerves have been frayed additional three minutes from the top of regular time.
Shiny Osayi-Samuel was struck on the arm by a ball into the field as he grappled with an attacker and, after being despatched to the pitchside monitor, referee Boubou Traore pointed to the spot.
Ali Abdi made no mistake with an emphatic penalty, however Tunisia couldn’t profit from seven further minutes, Ferjani Sassi twice going agonisingly shut as Nigeria clung on to progress.
