Ademola Lookman played a decisive role as Nigeria secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Tunisia, booking a place in the AFCON round of 16 and ending a three-match winless run against the Eagles of Carthage in head-to-head meetings.
The opening exchanges were lively but short on clear chances. Hannibal Mejbri rushed an early effort for Tunisia, while Victor Osimhen headed wide twice from good positions inside the first 11 minutes. Osimhen thought he had opened the scoring shortly after when he reacted quickest to Akor Adams’ parried shot, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
Nigeria gradually took control of the contest, though the dominance did not immediately translate into goals. Osimhen again failed to hit the target with a header from Calvin Bassey’s delivery, while Tunisia showed flashes of threat when Ali Abdi fired narrowly over Stanley Nwabali’s crossbar. Wilfred Ndidi responded at the other end with a shot that sailed over.
The breakthrough finally arrived just before halftime. Osimhen peeled away from Montassar Talbi to meet Lookman’s cross with a powerful header in the 44th minute, celebrating emphatically after earlier frustration.
Nigeria maintained the pressure after the restart and doubled their lead within five minutes. Ndidi rose highest to head in Lookman’s corner, scoring his first-ever goal for the Super Eagles.
The third goal came in the 67th minute, rounding off a flowing Nigerian move. Lookman skipped past Yan Valery and finished calmly despite Tunisian defenders scrambling back to the goal line.
Tunisia refused to fold and pulled one back with 15 minutes remaining when Talbi glanced Mejbri’s free-kick beyond Nwabali. The comeback gathered momentum in the 87th minute after Bright Osayi-Samuel conceded a penalty for handball, which Abdi converted confidently to make it 3-2.
The defeat ends Tunisia’s five-match unbeaten run, although the Eagles of Carthage remain second in the group ahead of their final game against Tanzania.
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