Nigeria’s Super Eagles are through to the AFCON knockout stage, but only after a nerve shredding finish in Fes that exposed some alarming cracks. A 3-0 cruise turned into a desperate 3-2 scramble for the line, as Tunisia’s furious fightback laid bare the vulnerabilities that could derail Nigeria’s title dreams.
Make no mistake, for an hour Nigeria were brilliant. Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi, and Ademola Lookman had put them in total command. But the moment Tunisia pulled one back through Montassar Talbi’s header, the whole match and the perception of this Nigerian side shifted dramatically. Suddenly, the swaggering contenders looked anxious and ordinary.
The collapse was rooted in a defensive fragility that Tunisia ruthlessly exploited. After looking imperious, Nigeria’s back line began to creak under simple pressure. The second goal, a penalty conceded by Bright Samuel’s handball and converted by Ali Abdi, was a gift born of panic. For the frantic final seven minutes of added time, Nigeria were hanging on by their fingertips, grateful for wayward finishing as Tunisia carved them open twice more.
It was a stark reminder that this team, for all its stellar attacking talent, has a soft centre. They switched off, lost their composure, and nearly threw away a sure thing. Manager Jose Peseiro will be fuming at the game management; a side with genuine trophy ambitions doesn’t surrender a three goal lead so easily.
Tunisia’s revival, sparked by the introduction of fresh legs and a more direct approach, should serve as a blueprint for Nigeria’s future opponents. Sit deep, absorb their early storm, and then target them aerially and with set pieces. The Super Eagles’ mentality under late pressure is now a serious question mark.
Yes, the job is done. Six points, qualification secured with a game to spare. But the manner of it will feel like a wake up call. They looked less like champions in waiting and more like a team with a glaring flaw. The knockout stages wait, where such lapses are punished without mercy. Nigeria are through, but they’ve just shown the continent they’re beatable.
