Osimhen Stars as Nigeria Edges Tunisia 3-2 to Secure AFCON Knockout Spot

Victor Osimhen showcased his exceptional talent as Nigeria clinched a thrilling 3-2 win against Tunisia, making them the second team to secure a place in the Africa Cup of Nations knockout rounds, trailing only Egypt. The Group C encounter, held in Fes, proved to be a gripping affair, especially as Tunisia intensified their efforts late in the match, testing the Super Eagles' endurance.

For the majority of the match, Nigeria maintained a firm grip on proceedings, establishing a 3-0 lead with contributions from Osimhen, team captain Wilfred Ndidi, and Ademola Lookman. The Super Eagles started strong, a stark contrast to their narrow opening victory over Tanzania.

Osimhen, donning his distinctive protective mask, was a persistent threat aerially. He narrowly missed two headers early on and had a goal disallowed for offside. Meanwhile, Tunisia struggled to keep pace with Nigeria’s aggressive pressing and physical play, particularly in the first thirty minutes.

The first breakthrough came just before halftime, with Lookman providing an accurate cross that Osimhen converted with a powerful header, granting Nigeria a well-deserved lead.

Five minutes into the second half, Nigeria doubled their lead, thanks to another assist from Lookman. His corner kick was met by Ndidi, who scored a commanding header—his first goal on the international stage.

The third goal followed in the 67th minute, as Osimhen turned into a creator, assisting Lookman, who skillfully controlled the ball in the box before sending it off the post and into the net.

However, Tunisia refused to go down without a fight, launching a late comeback. Montassar Talbi scored with a header from a free-kick with 16 minutes left, igniting hope for Tunisia. The pressure mounted when Ali Abdi converted a penalty after a VAR review identified a handball by a Nigerian player.

With seven additional minutes added, Tunisia made a frantic push for an equalizer. Captain Ferjani Sassi narrowly missed a header, while substitute Ismael Gharbi's attempt fell just wide as time ran out. Nigeria’s defense held strong to secure the crucial win.

The outcome positions Nigeria at the top of Group C with six points, while Tunisia remains at three. Both Uganda and Tanzania sit with one point each as they head into the concluding group matches.

Earlier on the same day, Uganda and Tanzania battled to a dramatic 1-1 draw, with Uganda missing a vital penalty late in the match after Uche Ikpeazu had equalized Simon Msuva's earlier spot-kick.

This draw leaves both East African teams’ hopes for qualification hanging by a thread, setting the stage for decisive group matches to come.