Victor Osimhen starred as the Super Eagles followed Egypt into the last 16, weathering intense late pressure from Tunisia in a top-of-the-table Group C clash.

Nigeria appeared to be cruising after racing into a 3-0 lead through goals from Osimhen, captain Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman. However, Tunisia refused to surrender, with Montassar Talbi and Ali Abdi scoring to set up a tense finale.

The Carthage Eagles had two chances to equalise during seven minutes of added time, but captain Ferjani Sassi headed just wide and substitute Ismael Gharbi fired narrowly off target.

Nigeria now sit top of Group C with six points, followed by Tunisia on three, while Tanzania and Uganda have one apiece ahead of Tuesday’s final round of group matches.

The encounter marked the seventh AFCON meeting between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles. Nigeria have now won three of those meetings, Tunisia one, while two others were decided by penalty shootouts, with each side winning once.

After an underwhelming performance in their narrow opening win over Tanzania, Nigeria were transformed against Tunisia, dominating the opening 30 minutes in the northern Moroccan city.

Osimhen was outstanding, particularly in aerial duels, repeatedly troubling the Tunisian defence. The Galatasaray striker, wearing his trademark protective mask, headed just over after nine minutes and went close again moments later from a corner.

He thought he had opened the scoring after 17 minutes, but the effort was correctly ruled offside, with replays showing the 2023 African Footballer of the Year had mistimed his run.

Tunisia midfielder Hannibal Mejbri was fortunate to escape a booking for dissent after angrily reacting to a Nigerian foul throw.

Osimhen later missed another headed chance and briefly left the pitch for treatment before Tunisia finally ventured forward on 32 minutes, winning a corner. The resulting set-piece fell to Abdi, whose effort sailed well over.

Nigeria eventually broke the deadlock on 44 minutes, with Osimhen once again the scorer. The move featured two African players of the year, as 2024 winner Lookman delivered a precise cross for Osimhen to power a header home between Abdi and Talbi.

Five minutes into the second half, Nigeria doubled their advantage, again exposing Tunisia’s aerial vulnerability. Lookman floated in a corner, and Ndidi rose highest to beat goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen and score his first international goal.

Lookman then capped a fine performance by scoring Nigeria’s third on 67 minutes after being set up by Osimhen. He controlled calmly inside the box before firing in off the post.

Tunisia pulled one back with 16 minutes remaining when Talbi headed home a Mejbri free-kick, swinging momentum firmly in their favour.

The pressure told again three minutes from time, as Abdi converted a penalty following a VAR review that showed Bright Samuel had handled the ball, setting up a nervy finish. Nigeria, however, held firm to secure qualification for the knockout stage.