Nigeria on Saturday secured qualification for the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a pulsating 3–2 Group C victory over Tunisia at the Complexe Sportif de Fès, Morocco.

Victor Osimhen opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time, rising highest to head home Ademola Lookman’s cross after the Super Eagles had squandered several early chances.

Captain Wilfred Ndidi doubled Nigeria’s advantage five minutes into the second half, nodding in from Lookman’s inswinging corner to score his maiden international goal and crown a dominant midfield display.

Lookman then capped a superb individual performance in the 67th minute, finishing calmly after an unselfish assist from Osimhen to give Nigeria a commanding 3–0 lead.

Tunisia mounted a late response, pulling one back in the 74th minute through Montassar Talbi’s header, before Ali Abdi converted a late penalty to set up a tense finish.

The Super Eagles, however, held firm to record their second consecutive win of the tournament, confirming their place in the AFCON 2025 round of 16.

Osimhen’s goal was his 32nd in 46 appearances for Nigeria, leaving him five goals shy of the late Rashidi Yekini’s all-time national scoring record.

Nigeria now top Group C with six points from two matches. Tunisia, with three points, sit second, while Uganda’s Cranes and Tanzania’s Taifa Stars occupy third and fourth positions respectively, after playing out a 1–1 draw in the group’s other encounter.

In Group D, Benin Republic defeated Botswana 1–0 to keep their hopes of reaching the round of 16 alive, while Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo played out a 1–1 draw in a fiercely contested encounter.

Speaking after the match, Frank Onyeka expressed disappointment over the two goals conceded by the Super Eagles, saying the team could still improve.

“I was disappointed that Tunisia got the two goals, especially the penalty and the set piece. I think the performance was good, and we tried to follow the instructions,” Onyeka said.

He added that the team would approach their final group match against Uganda with the same intensity and discipline displayed against Tunisia.

Saturday’s clash marked the seventh AFCON meeting between Nigeria and Tunisia. The Super Eagles have now won three of those encounters, while Tunisia have recorded one victory. Their other two meetings ended in penalty shoot-outs, with both teams winning one apiece.

Nigeria will face Uganda in their final Group C match on Tuesday at 4 p.m. in Fès, while Tunisia will return to Rabat to take on Tanzania at the same time.