AFCON 2025: Super Eagles Exact Revenge on Tunisia in Five-Goal Thriller

It was billed as a grudge match, and for 70 minutes, the Super Eagles played with the ruthless efficiency of potential champions. Four years after the Carthage Eagles ended their AFCON dreams in Garoua, Nigeria exacted sweet, albeit nervy, retribution in Morocco. Powered by the Serie A duo of Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, Nigeria stormed to a 3-0 lead before a late psychological collapse allowed Tunisia to claw back two goals, turning a procession into a panic.

The Atalanta-Napoli Axis Destroys Tunisian Resistance

While the scoreline suggests a close contest, the underlying metrics of the first hour tell a different story. Nigeria’s dominance was built on aerial supremacy and the telepathic understanding between their forwards. Despite a wasteful opening 15 minutes where Osimhen squandered two clear headers—uncharacteristic for the reigning African Player of the Year—the pressure eventually told.

Ademola Lookman was the architect of Tunisia's destruction. Operating in the half-spaces, the Atalanta winger provided the pinpoint delivery for Osimhen’s 44th-minute opener, a goal that finally broke the Tunisian low block. Lookman’s influence didn't stop there; his 67th-minute strike—a rapid transition finish that cannoned off the post—was just reward for a Man of the Match performance that also saw him create four big chances.

• Aerial Dominance: Nigeria won 65% of their aerial duels in the first half, a stat that directly led to the first two goals.
• Wilfred Ndidi's Return: The midfielder's bullet header in the 50th minute marked his first international goal in over two years, signaling his return to peak fitness.
• Historical Context: This win ends a three-match winless streak for Nigeria against Tunisia in competitive AFCON fixtures.

The Late Collapse: Complacency or Fatigue?

Jalel Kadri's Tunisia looked buried until the 74th minute. The introduction of Hannibal Mejbri earlier in the game had given them some bite, but it was Nigeria’s defensive switch-off that invited the pressure. Montassar Talbi’s header exposed a lack of concentration in zonal marking, a recurring issue for the Super Eagles under pressure.

When VAR intervened to penalize an silver-lining handball in the 84th minute, allowing Ali Abdi to convert from the spot, the complexion of the game shifted entirely. Ferjani Sassi's missed header in stoppage time was a heart-in-mouth moment that nearly cost Nigeria two points. While the attack looks world-class, conceding two goals in 13 minutes against a Tunisia side that struggled to create from open play will concern the coaching staff.

Group C Implications

The victory guarantees Nigeria a place in the Round of 16 with a maximum of 6 points from two games. Conversely, Tunisia finds themselves in a precarious position. Stuck on 3 points, the Carthage Eagles now face a must-win scenario in their final group game to guarantee automatic qualification, rather than relying on the mathematics of the best third-placed teams.