The Super Eagles secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Tunisia in a dramatic Group C encounter at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, officially confirming their place in the knockout stages. The match, played at the Complexe Sportif de Fès, saw Nigeria display a dominant performance for much of the game, although they had to withstand a spirited late Tunisian fightback.

Nigeria's offensive prowess was evident early on, with Victor Osimhen testing the Tunisian defense. The Galatasaray striker eventually broke the deadlock in the 44th minute, heading home a precise cross from Ademola Lookman to give Nigeria a 1-0 lead at halftime. This goal was significant for Osimhen, moving him to 32 international goals, just five shy of Rashidi Yekini's long-standing national record of 37. His impact was so profound that a Tunisian supporter later described him as "unplayable" and "an absolute monster," praising his "best box presence in world football" and intelligent movement, strength, and jumping ability that terrorized their defenders.

The second half began with Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi doubling Nigeria's advantage with his maiden international goal, expertly meeting another corner from Ademola Lookman. Ndidi's celebration sparked widespread nostalgia among Nigerian fans as he recreated Nwankwo Kanu’s iconic Atlanta 1996 Olympic pose, linking the current generation to a cherished football memory. Lookman then turned scorer himself in the 70th minute, capping a flowing team move with individual brilliance to make it 3-0. This further highlighted his blossoming partnership with Osimhen, which Lookman attributed to a simple yet devastating understanding, stating, "we got a good rapport together and we try to find each other on the pitch." Lookman was rightly named Man of the Match for his decisive performance, contributing a goal and two assists.

Despite Nigeria's commanding 3-0 lead, Tunisia mounted a spirited comeback. Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a header in the 84th minute, and Ali Abdi converted a controversial penalty in the 87th minute, setting up a tense finale. This late surge reduced Nigeria's advantage to 3-2. Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi strongly criticized the penalty decision, insisting the referee made a clear mistake and expressing disbelief that the VAR review upheld it. Head coach Eric Chelle also voiced his confusion regarding the penalty, citing inconsistencies in handball officiating rules.

Throughout the match, Alex Iwobi delivered another sensational performance from midfield, orchestrating play and providing the foundation for Nigeria's dominant periods. Playing in his 93rd international appearance, Iwobi's masterclass involved dropping deep, threading passes, and creating space, notably with a perfectly weighted through ball in the build-up to Lookman's goal. After the match, Iwobi posted a cryptic message on social media, "Promise Is A Promise… Don't Break It Sha," sparking speculation about whether it referred to commitments from the Nigerian Football Federation or a rallying cry to teammates for the AFCON title.

Head coach Eric Chelle acknowledged the struggles in the last 20 minutes, which made him "uneasy," and emphasized the need for improvement, especially in defending set-pieces. He explained his late-game tactical substitutions, introducing Moses Simon, Chidera Ejuke, and Chidozie Awaziem, were a direct response to the game's dynamics and the need to bring stability, as maintaining high pressure for 90 minutes was not feasible. Despite the late tension, Nigeria showed resilience, holding firm to secure all three points and confirming their qualification for the Round of 16 for the 16th consecutive time. With six points from two matches, Nigeria sits atop Group C ahead of their final group fixture against Uganda, allowing Chelle the luxury of rotation but maintaining the team's momentum and belief in their system and quality.