AFCON 2025: Super Eagles star tells Eric Chelle to answer for near-collapse against Tunisia

Moses Simon has admitted Nigeria’s dramatic late wobble against Tunisia raised concerns, despite the Super Eagles claiming a crucial 3–2 victory at AFCON 2025.

The winger insisted the team were not fatigued, but suggested head coach Eric Chelle was best placed to explain the late collapse.

Nigeria appeared firmly in control for much of their second Group C match, producing one of their most fluent displays of the tournament so far.

Victor Osimhen finally broke his AFCON goal drought just before half-time after seeing five earlier efforts ruled out, setting the tone for a dominant performance.

Second-half goals from Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman pushed the Super Eagles into a commanding 3–0 lead, with Tunisia struggling to cope with Nigeria’s pace, pressing and movement. For long spells, the North African giants were pinned back and looked rattled by Nigeria’s attacking intent.

Simon later reflected on the impact of those early goals, stressing how they shaped the game in Nigeria’s favour.

He noted that Tunisia appeared shaken once Nigeria found their rhythm and believed the Super Eagles could have added even more goals during their strongest spell. Missed chances, he felt, ultimately kept Tunisia alive when the contest should have been out of sight.

Despite Nigeria’s dominance, the final stages told a different story. Goals from Montassar Talbi and Ali Abdi in the last 15 minutes suddenly turned a comfortable evening into a tense finale, raising questions about game management and concentration.

Asked what went wrong, Simon was careful not to single out teammates, instead directing attention to the bench. “The answer goes to the coach, not me. We are not tired, but the answer goes to the coach,” he told reporters.

The Paris FC winger remained upbeat about Nigeria’s overall trajectory, pointing to clear attacking improvement across games. “We are making progress. Last game we scored two and this game we scored three. Step by step, I think we are improving,” Simon added.

Nigeria now turn their focus to their final Group C match against Uganda in Fez on Tuesday, knowing victory could secure top spot and send a strong message ahead of the knockout stages.