The Super Eagles of Nigeria survived a nervy end to claim a well-earned 3-2 win over Tunisia in their second game of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025), Soccernet.ng reports.
Nigeria locked horns with North Africa giants Tunisia at Complexe Sportif De Fes on Saturday night in their AFCON 2025 Group C game.
The build-up to the game was big, as fans expected a lot from the two teams, given the quality set to be on display on the night.
However, the Super Eagles took the game to the Tunisians from the very blast of the whistle. Nigeria bossed the play, starved the Carthage Eagles of the ball, and looked like the better side.
Coach Eric Chelle made a key change to his setup from the previous game against Tanzania, as he opted for three players in midfield, with Frank Onyeka replacing Samuel Chukwueze. That decision eventually proved to be key.
Nigeria’s first chance came in the 8th minute. Semi Ajayi played Akor Adams a beautiful pass into the right channel.
The Sevilla man, with a marker on him, played a beautiful cross into the area to locate Osimhen. However, Osimhen just sent his header wide.
Just two minutes later the Galatasaray got another chance to score from a cross. But yet again, he failed to get his header on target.
In the 18th minute, Osimhen put the ball in the back of the net after pouncing on the rebound of a shot from Wilfred Ndidi. But it was ruled out for offside.
Tunisia’s first major attacking foray came in the 29th minute after Elias Achouri tried to conjure something on the right of Nigeria’s backline. But the Super Eagles defenders held their own.
Nigeria was the better side all through the first half, but it wasn’t until the 44th minute that they got their goal. And it was courtesy of Osimhen.
He got on the end of a nice cross from Lookman on the left and just guided the ball into the net to make it 1-0.
The Super Eagles took that lead into the break. But it was in the second half that the goals started pouring in.
Just five minutes into the restart, Nigeria struck again. And it was Ndidi who scored. He jumped highest to meet a corner from Lookman and headed the ball in amid traffic in Tunisia’s box.
Then, in the 67th minute, Nigeria added one more. This time, it was a perfectly worked goal. Iwobi played a perfectly-weighted through pass to Osimhen who was running into the area.
The Galatasaray man had an opportunity to take a shot, but he laid it off to Lookman who was running into space in the middle of the box.
Lookman controlled the ball, dropped his shoulder to deceive his marker, and struck the ball with venom with his left foot. It hit the Tunisian goalkeeper, but the shot was too powerful, as it then bounced to the inside of the upright and found its way into the net.
More to follow….