Nigeria put on an impressive display of attacking prowess but had to hang on for a narrow 3–2 win over Tunisia at the Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday, becoming the second team to secure a place in the last 16.
Victor Osimhen opened the scoring a minute before halftime, with captain Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman adding two more goals after the break.
Tunisia mounted a late comeback through goals from defenders Montassar Talbi and Ali Abdi, setting up a frenetic finish.
It was Nigeria’s second win in Group C and confirms they will top the standings, even with one group-stage match still to play.
Nigeria v Tunisia
- Top two in Group C meet chasing place in knockout stages at Afcon 2025
- Match kicked off at 8pm GMT | Live on Channel 4seven in UK
- Nigeria: Nwabali; Osasi-Samuel, Ajayi, Bassey, Bruno; Ndidi, Onyeka, Iwobi; Akor Adams, Osimhen, Lookman
- Tunisia: Dahmen; Valery, Bronn, Talbi, Abdi; Sassi, Skhiri, Mejbri, Romdhane; Achouri, Mastour
- GOAL! Nigeria 1-0 Tunisia (Osimhen, 42 min)
- GOAL! Nigeria 2-0 Tunisia (Ndidi, 48 min)
- GOAL! Nigeria 3-0 Tunisia (Lookman, 67 min)
- GOAL! Nigeria 3-1 Tunisia (Talbi, 74 min)
- GOAL! Nigeria 3-2 Tunisia (Abdi, 87 min)
Afcon 2025 results and standings
23:38 , Lawrence OstlereThanks for reading. We leave you with the standings and results so far at Afcon 2025:
Afcon 2025: Fixtures, results, tables and schedule in full from Africa Cup of Nations
Tanzania 1-1 Uganda
22:26 , Lawrence OstlereThe other game of the group, between Uganda and Tanzania – two of the three co-hosts of the next tournament with Kenya – ended in a 1-1 draw in a frenetic early Group C game, a result that did little for either after opening losses.
Uganda's Allan Okello missed the chance to win the game when he struck a penalty well over in stoppage time, after a rain deluge had drenched the players and sent fans scampering for cover.
Tanzania's Simon Msuva put the Taifa Stars ahead with a penalty early in the second half, then Uche Ikpeazu equalized with a diving header late, just three minutes after going on as a substitute. That goal prompted the heavens to open, adding to the chaos of the final minutes as both sides pushed for a win to boost their hopes of progress.
Full-time: Nigeria 3-2 Tunisia
22:03 , Lawrence OstlereNigeria put on an impressive display of attacking prowess but had to hang on for a narrow 3–2 win over Tunisia at the Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday, becoming the second team to secure a place in the last 16.
Victor Osimhen opened the scoring a minute before halftime, with captain Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman adding two more goals after the break.
Tunisia mounted a late comeback through goals from defenders Montassar Talbi and Ali Abdi, setting up a frenetic finish.
It was Nigeria’s second win in Group C and confirms they will top the standings, even with one group-stage match still to play.
Full-time: Nigeria 3-2 Tunisia
21:56 , Lawrence OstlereA routine win turned into an extraordinarily tense finish, but Nigeria cling on to claim three points and a place in the knockout stages.
Nigeria 3-2 Tunisia
21:55 , Lawrence Ostlere90+6 min: Ismael Gharbi tries a volley from the edge of the box, but it bounces harmlessly wide. Is that it?
Nigeria 3-2 Tunisia
21:53 , Lawrence Ostlere90+4 min: So, so close!! Tounekti, who has been lively, whips in a lovely cross to the centre where Sassi meets it, but his header bounces just wide of the post with Nwabali stranded in the Nigerian goal.
Nigeria 3-2 Tunisia
21:51 , Lawrence Ostlere90+2 min: After a flurry of Tunisia attacks without a clear sight of goal, Nigeria are on the break, trying to keep the ball in the Tunisian half. Time ticking down...
Nigeria 3-2 Tunisia
21:48 , Lawrence Ostlere90 min: Seven minutes to be added on!
Nigeria 3-2 Tunisia
21:47 , Lawrence Ostlere89 min: Nwabali wastes plenty of time with a free-kick. Nigeria are looking to run down the clock. How much time will be added on?
GOAL! Nigeria 3-2 Tunisia (Abdi, 87 min)
21:45 , Lawrence OstlereAbdi smashes the ball into the roof of the net – brilliant penalty! Game on!!!
Penalty to Tunisia!
21:44 , Lawrence OstlereOh my word. Tunisia appeal for a penalty as the ball strikes Osayi-Samuel’s arm in the Nigiera box when he challenged for a header. The referee ignored it, but VAR intervenes! After a check, the referee changes his mind. A little harsh, for me...
Nigeria 3-1 Tunisia
21:41 , Lawrence Ostlere80 min: Huge chance! Tunisia work the ball swiftly down the left and a cross is arrowed towards Mastouri in the middle, but somehow he can’t quite connect and the opportunity is gone. Tunisia may not get a better look at grabbing a second goal.
Nigeria 3-1 Tunisia
21:37 , Lawrence Ostlere77 min: Nigeria look the more likely to score next, as they come forwards looking for another.
GOAL! Nigeria 3-1 Tunisia (Talbi, 74 min)
21:34 , Lawrence OstlereNow then. A lovely free-kick delivery by Mejbri is nodded home by Talbi from the penalty spot. Nwabali should have saved it but seemed to get his studs caught in the turf and didn’t dive for the ball.
Nigeria 3-0 Tunisia
21:28 , Lawrence Ostlere70 min: If you’re a rival team at this tournament, that goal was ominous. The speed, the combinations, the quality of the finish. A cut above.
GOAL! Nigeria 3-0 Tunisia (Lookman, 67 min)
21:26 , Lawrence OstlereThis is a wonderful goal, the best of the night. Osimhen races on to a throughball and the whole stadium expects him to shoot, but he plays a clever cutback to the arriving Ademola Lookman on the penalty spot, who shimmies away from a defender before firing a low shot home.
Nigeria 2-0 Tunisia
21:24 , Lawrence Ostlere64 min: Nigeria are enjoying another long phase with the ball, in a bid to kill off this game.
Nigeria 2-0 Tunisia
21:20 , Lawrence Ostlere60 min: Tunisia bring on Sebastian Tounekti, of Celtic, replacing the injured Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane.
Nigeria 2-0 Tunisia
21:18 , Lawrence Ostlere57 min: The game is back up and running, although Tunisia are angry, because the referee blew up for a foul too quickly and should have played advantage. Had he done so, Nigerian goalkeeper Nwabali probably would have been sent off for a terrible challenge outside his box. But the whistle had already gone.
Nigeria 2-0 Tunisia
21:16 , Lawrence Ostlere55 min: There are a couple of players down with knocks, forcing a pause in the game. Tunisia need a huge shift now to turn this around, and they are preparing a change...
Nigeria 2-0 Tunisia
21:13 , Lawrence Ostlere52 min: Good from Nigeria again as Lookman and Osimhen combine on the edge of the box and the former gets a shot off, but it’s blocked.
GOAL! Nigeria 2-0 Tunisia (Ndidi, 48 min)
21:09 , Lawrence OstlereNigeria have another, almost immediately! It’s Ndidi who rises at a corner to head home, unmarked, from six yards. Simple.
Half-time: Nigeria 1-0 Tunisia
21:01 , Lawrence OstlereCan Tunisia find a way back into this one? Second half coming up...
Half-time: Nigeria 1-0 Tunisia
20:52 , Lawrence OstlereOsimhen’s goal is the difference at half-time.
Half-time: Nigeria 1-0 Tunisia
20:49 , Lawrence OstlereNigeria lead at the break, and deservedly so. They dominated the first half and created plenty of chances, mainly for Osimhen, who couldn’t find the target. But finally he managed to head the ball under the bar and the Super Eagles are ahead.
Nigeria 1-0 Tunisia
20:47 , Lawrence Ostlere43 min: It’s a great header, leaping high, leaning back, and after several misses, this time Osimhen manages to steer it on target.
GOAL! Nigeria 1-0 Tunisia (Osimhen, 42 min)
20:45 , Lawrence OstlereThere it is! Lookman delivers a cross from the left and Victor Osimhen rises highest to head home the first goal at the back post.
Nigeria 0-0 Tunisia
20:38 , Lawrence Ostlere36 min: Tunisia come forwards again and earn themselves another corner, which comes to nothing, but they have another a minute later. Some promising moments here...
Nigeria 0-0 Tunisia
20:36 , Lawrence Ostlere34 min: Ndidi lashes an effort from the edge of the box, but it sails over the crossbar.
Nigeria 0-0 Tunisia
20:33 , Lawrence Ostlere31 min: A rare Tunisia attack! Mastouri almost gets on the end of a cross into the box and forces a corner. Abdi gets a powerful shot off after the corner bounces out of the box into his path, but it flies over the bar.
Nigeria 0-0 Tunisia
20:30 , Lawrence Ostlere28 min: Yet another headed chance for Osimhen, after an excellent cross from the left, but he can’t get full contact on the ball and it glances wide.
Nigeria 0-0 Tunisia
20:29 , Lawrence Ostlere25 min: Nigeria have had 72% possession, and six shots compared to their opponents’ one, but still no breakthrough.
Nigeria 0-0 Tunisia
20:24 , Lawrence Ostlere21 min: Onyemaechi delivers a free-kick into the box but it’s overhit and Tunisia clear their lines.
No goal!
20:19 , Lawrence Ostlere17 min: Victor Osimhen pounces on a rebound after a spill by Dahmen in the Tunisia goal, and taps home, but the flag immediately goes up and it’s the correct decision, despite his protests.
Nigeria 0-0 Tunisia
20:16 , Lawrence Ostlere14 min: Tunisia are yet to get any kind of foothold in this game.
Nigeria 0-0 Tunisia
20:12 , Lawrence Ostlere11 min: Osimhen wins the header from the corner but again can’t steer his effort on target.
Nigeria 0-0 Tunisia
20:11 , Lawrence Ostlere9 min: Osayi-Samuel takes a shot at goal and earns a corner after Bronn deflects it off target.
Nigeria 0-0 Tunisia
20:10 , Lawrence Ostlere6 min: Huge chance! It faills to the right man, Victor Osimhen, but the striker can’t quite get his head over the ball and his effort flies over the bar from close range. Nigeria have started brightly, here.
Nigeria 0-0 Tunisia
20:05 , Lawrence Ostlere2 min: Abdi clatters Osayi-Samuel and Nigeria have a free-kick on the halfway line. That was a ‘let him know you’re there’ kind of early challenge.
Kick-off! Nigeria 0-0 Tunisia
20:03 , Lawrence OstlereUnderway in Fez.
Nigeria v Tunisia
20:00 , Lawrence OstlereHere we go, then! The players are out on the pitch, and some hand-shaking is going on ahead of kick-off.
Nigeria v Tunisia
19:51 , Lawrence OstlereKick-off coming up shortly in Fez, where Nigeria and Tunisia fans are beginning to fill up the stands. A reminder that the winner of this one will be through to the knockout stages.
Afcon 2025 news
19:46 , Lawrence OstlereFrench coach Jean-Louis Gasset, who was fired mid-tournament by Ivory Coast before it went on to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, has died aged 72.
"The loss of Mr. Jean-Louis Gasset is a significant blow to Ivorian and international football," the Ivorian Football Federation said in a statement on Friday. "A seasoned coach, a man of duty and principle, he left his mark on the technical management of the Elephants of Ivory Coast through his expertise, professional rigor and dedication to the sport.
"His tenure at the helm of the national team contributed decisively to the Elephants' success at the Africa Cup — cementing his legacy in the sporting history of Ivory Coast."
Gasset was the son of Bernard Gasset, one of Montpellier's founding members, and he went on to play for the club before moving into coaching.
He had three stints as Montpellier coach, most recently from October 2024 to April 2025.
Osimhen to strike tonight?
19:41 , Lawrence OstlereVictor Osimhen couldn’t find the net in Nigeria’s opening game. Can he break his duck tonight?
Afcon 2025 news
19:33 , Lawrence OstlereThe Fulham winger could miss up to six matches for his club if Nigeria reach the round of 16. He added: “We understand it was scheduled at the wrong time of the year, but when you’re called up you have to go. Your club can’t stop you, and no one should say anything bad about AFCON. Saying it’s not a good or great competition is unacceptable.”
Chukwueze helped Nigeria secure a 2–1 opening win over Tanzania in Group C ahead of Saturday’s clash with Tunisia.
Afcon 2025 news
19:28 , Lawrence OstlereNigeria forward Samuel Chukwueze believes the Africa Cup of Nations deserves the same level of respect as the World Cup and the European Championship, following controversy over the timing of this year’s tournament in Morocco.
Originally scheduled for the summer, AFCON was moved to December 21–January 18, a decision that has deprived leading European clubs of key players during a crucial stage of the domestic season. Speaking to On Sports TV, Chukwueze said: “Everybody wants to play in AFCON. It’s one of the best competitions in the world. You have to respect AFCON the same way you respect the European Championship or the World Cup.”
How to watch
19:14 , Lawrence OstlereThe match kicks off at 8pm GMT at the Fez Stadium in Morocco.
The game will be shown live on UK TV on Channel 4seven from 7.50pm. Fans can live stream the game online via the All4 website and app.
Tunisia – confirmed line-up
19:02 , Lawrence OstlereDahmen; Valery, Bronn, Talbi, Abdi; Sassi, Skhiri, Mejbri, Romdhane; Achouri, Mastour.
Nigeria – confirmed line-up
19:01 , Lawrence OstlereNwabali; Osasi-Samuel, Ajayi, Bassey, Bruno; Ndidi, Onyeka, Iwobi; Akor Adams, Osimhen, Lookman.
Nigeria v Tunisia
18:54 , Lawrence OstlereConfirmed line-ups will be dropping shortly...
Team news
18:38 , Lawrence OstlereNigeria have no fresh injury worries after their opening win. Tunisia’s Hazem Mastouri came off during their first game but is fit to start once more.
Nigeria v Tunisia
18:24 , Lawrence OstlereTunisia also got off to a winning start after seeing off Uganda 3-1 in Rabat. Copenhagen forward Elias Achouri scored twice to ensure an ideal start.
Victory here for either side would book their place in the knockout stages.
Nigeria v Tunisia
18:11 , Lawrence OstlereNigeria continue their Africa Cup of Nations campaign tonight against Tunisia in Fez, Morocco.
The Super Eagles edged past Tanzania 2-1 in their Afcon 2025 opener as Ademola Lookman got on the scoresheet, but star striker Victor Osimhen failed to shine as Nigeria wasted several good chances to add to their tally.
Nigeria v Tunisia
16:08 , Lawrence OstlereWelcome along to live coverage as Nigeria and Tunisia clash at the top of Group C tonight, meeting in Morocco.
