Nigeria’s men’s football team, the Super Eagles, has officially secured a round of 16 spot at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Super Eagles secured the round of 16 spot following a 3-2 victory over Tunisia at the Complexe Sportif de Fès. In a high-stakes Group C encounter on Saturday night.
The Super Eagles displayed both attacking brilliance and defensive resilience to ensure Nigeria secured a round of 16 spot with a game to spare.
The match began with high intensity as both teams vied for group supremacy. After several missed opportunities early on, former African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen broke the deadlock in the 44th minute.
Capitalizing on a pinpoint cross from Ademola Lookman, Osimhen powered a header past the Tunisian goalkeeper to give Nigeria a deserved lead going into the break.
The Super Eagles carried their momentum into the second half, doubling their lead in the 50th minute when captain Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to meet another Lookman delivery.
The victory seemed certain in the 67th minute when Ademola Lookman turned from provider to scorer, finishing a slick team move involving Alex Iwobi and Osimhen to make it 3-0.
However, Tunisia refused to go down without a fight. The Carthage Eagles attempted to stage a late comeback with goals from Gharbi in the 75th minute and a late penalty converted by Ali Abdi in the 87th minute.
Despite a frantic final ten minutes of stoppage time, the Nigerian defense held firm to ensure the win.
This crucial result means Nigeria secured a round-of-16 spot, topping Group C, marking a successful start to Coach Eric Chelle’s debut tournament.
With six points from two matches, the team can now afford to rotate its squad in the final group fixture against Uganda. Fans across the continent are now eyeing the bracket to see who the Super Eagles will face in the next round.
