The Super Eagles of Nigeria booked their ticket to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 in dramatic and contentious fashion, holding on for a nervy 3-2 victory over Tunisia on Saturday, December 27. The win, however, was overshadowed by a late and highly controversial penalty decision that has ignited a firestorm of criticism towards the match officials and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Super Eagles Soar Then Survive Late Scare
Seeking to make amends for their failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Nigeria started the match in Morocco with fierce determination. Goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi, and a record-setting Ademola Lookman had the three-time African champions cruising with a commanding 3-0 lead. The match seemed all but settled, setting the stage for a comfortable finish.
However, the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia mounted a stunning late resurgence. Montassar Talbi found the net to begin the comeback, setting up a tense finale. The drama reached its peak in the closing minutes when Malian referee Boubou Traore pointed to the penalty spot after a challenge involving Nigerian defender Bright Osayi-Samuel.
The Controversial Call That Sparked Outrage
The decision to award Tunisia a penalty was immediately met with disbelief. Replays suggested Osayi-Samuel's hands were in a natural position during the incident inside the box. Despite this, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) upheld the on-field call, ruling the ball had made contact with the defender's arm. Tunisia converted the spot-kick, slicing Nigeria's lead to a single goal and creating a heart-stopping end to the encounter.
Nigerian football expert Toritseju Williams was scathing in his assessment of the officiating. In an exclusive interview, he labeled the decision a "wrong call" from both the referee and the VAR team.
"In no way was that a penalty because the defender's hands were in the right position," Williams stated. "Even if the referee made the call, I expected VAR to overturn the decision because we have seen in different times that same decision not being awarded."
Social Media Erupts and Questions Over CAF Consistency
The contentious penalty triggered an explosion of outrage on social media platforms, with Nigerian fans and neutral observers alike condemning the standard of officiating. The incident has fueled a broader debate about the consistency of rule application by referees and VAR officials at AFCON 2025, particularly in high-stakes matches involving top teams like the Super Eagles.
One fan, Wako Joel, tweeted pointedly: "If Tunisia was awarded such a rubbish penalty against Nigeria, why wasn't South Africa awarded a penalty against Egypt? #AFCON2025 is now total garbage." Another user, Oluwatobi, suggested the call was a result of officials bowing to fan pressure in the stadium.
Despite the late drama, Nigeria managed to see out the victory, securing top spot in Group C. With their knockout round place already confirmed, attention now turns to their final group game against Uganda on December 30.
Head coach Eric Chelle will be pleased with the result and the attacking prowess shown early in the match but concerned by the defensive lapse at the end. The Super Eagles join Egypt as the first teams to advance to the Round of 16, but the controversy from this match is sure to linger as the tournament progresses.
