Ademola Lookman once again proved why he is one of Africa’s most dangerous forwards, leading the Super Eagles to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Tunisia. The win, which came during Nigeria’s second Group C encounter at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, officially seals the team’s place in the knockout stages of the tournament.
The Atalanta star was the undisputed hero of the night, walking away with the Man of the Match award after an incredible performance that saw him involved in all three of Nigeria’s goals. Lookman found the back of the net himself and provided two crucial assists in a game that displayed the sheer attacking depth of the Nigerian squad.
The Super Eagles set the tone early, though they faced some frustration when Victor Osimhen had multiple goals chalked off. However, the persistence paid off just before the break. In the 44th minute, Osimhen finally ended his AFCON goal drought by heading home a perfectly placed cross from Lookman, sending the Nigerian fans into a frenzy as the team headed into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
The momentum continued in the second half when captain Wilfred Ndidi doubled the lead. Ndidi connected with another precise assist from Lookman to score his first-ever international goal for Nigeria. Not satisfied with just playmaking, Lookman eventually got on the scoresheet himself, slotting home the third goal to give the Super Eagles what looked like a comfortable 3-0 cushion.
However, the game took a tense turn in the closing stages. Tunisia refused to go down without a fight, with Montassar Talbi pulling one back in the 74th minute. A late penalty converted by Ali Abdi in the 87th minute set up a nervous finish for the Nigerian side. Despite the late pressure, the Super Eagles held their ground to secure the win.
This victory marks the 16th consecutive time Nigeria has advanced to the AFCON knockout rounds. Speaking after the final whistle, Lookman expressed his pride in the team’s performance, noting that while Tunisia had a brief spell of dominance late in the game, the Super Eagles were the better side for the majority of the match and fully deserved the three points.
