Victor Osimhen of Nigeria celebrates goal with teammates during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON match between Nigeria and Tunisia at the Complex Sportif de Fes in Fes, Morocco on 27 December 2025 ©Mehrez Toujani/BackpagePix
Saturday Dec 27, 2025. 23:37
Nigeria endured an anxious final few minutes as Tunisia battled back from three goals down to lose 3-2 in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations at the Fez Stadium on Saturday.
Eric Chelle’s side looked to be cruising after goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman gave them a 3-0 lead with 23 minutes left to play.
But Montassar Talbi pulled one back from the penalty spot on 75 minutes and Ali Abdi struck three minutes from time to ensure a nervy finish to the game for the Super Eagles, who went three points clear at the top of the group.
Nigeria completely dominated proceedings in the first half and they made a bright start, with Osimhen directing a header over the crossbar on nine minutes after getting away from his marker to meet a cross.
The Galatasaray striker threatened again just two minutes later as he got on the end of a corner, but failed to keep the ball down once more after his header cleared the target.
Osimhen did manage to find the back of the net in the 18th minute, although the goal didn’t count after he was correctly flagged for offside.
Wilfred Ndidi was also guilty of not testing the goalkeeper after latching onto a ball on the edge of the box and skying a first-time shot on 36 minutes.
However, the Super Eagles’ pressure finally paid off in the final minute of the half when Lookman sent in a lofted cross from the byline and Osimhen climbed highest to head home from close range.
The second half was just five minutes old when they struck again, Ndidi this time powering a header home from a corner to make it 2-0.
Osimhen then turned provider on 67 minutes as he played in Lookman with an exquisite pass and the Atalanta star tucked his shot past Aymen Dahmen in off the left post to effectively put the game to bed.
The West African giants weren’t to keep a first clean sheet of the tournament though, after Talbi pulled one back for Tunisia with a bullet header from a free-kick that flashed past Stanley Nwabali.
There was late drama to come as the Eagles of Carthage were awarded a penalty for handball on Bright Osayi-Samuel following a VAR review. Abdi stepped up to dispatch his spot-kick past Nwabali, reducing the deficit to just one goal with three minutes left on the clock.
Ismael Gharbi was so close to equalising deep into stoppage time with a volley from the edge of the box that had Nwabali scrambling but flew narrowly wide of the left post.
Nigeria (1) 3 (Osimhen 44′, Ndidi 50′, Lookman 67′)
Tunisia (0) 2 (Talbi 75′, Abdi 87′ PEN)