Nigera was able to secure a place in the round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 through a hard, fought 3, 2 victory against Tunisia in Group C. Just before the break, Victor Osimhen, the star attacker, scored the opening goal, thus making it easier for the Super Eagles to expand their lead, which they used to control the match for a large part of the game. In the absence of Nigeria, the Tunisia team mounted a late offensive but the Super Eagles still managed to hold on and secure their place in the last 16 as one of the earliest qualifiers in the tournament.
Osimhen was the key player for the team, his performance gave the team a platform they never really lost even in situations when their lead was reduced. Following Egypt, Nigeria became the second country to confirm their progression to the knockout stage, an indication of their good performance in the group stage.
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Senegal remain on course with crucial draw
Elsewhere in the competition, Senegal kept their dream of progressing to the next round alive after a 1, 1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) in Tangiers. Ex, Liverpool star Sadio Man was the one to put Senegal on the score sheet after DR Congo had taken the lead and thus kept his team in a very good position in Group D. The draw helped Senegal to stay near the top of their group and kept alive their chances to advance to the knockout rounds.
What this means for the tournament
Having confirmed their last, 16 spot, the pressure is now on other teams in Group C to secure their progression to the final round of matches. Tunisia, Tanzania, and Uganda are the only teams left to fight for the spot but the trio has a tough job ahead as they battle for the remaining places to qualify. On the other hand, the draw of Senegal keeps them fighting in Group D, their knockout dream still alive before the final matches. Both sides showed great fighting spirit and the exceptional performance of veterans and in particular the goals of Osimhen and Man which was a clear indication of how far they could go in the later stages of AFCON.
