Nigeria Book Afcon Knockout Place Despite Fierce Carthage Eagles Fightback
Ex- African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in his team establish a 3-0 lead, before the Super Eagles were forced to hold on for a narrow win.
Nigeria weathered a dramatic comeback attempt from their opponents to advance to the last 16 of the Afcon tournament taking place in Morocco.
The Super Eagles seemed to be cruising in their Group C encounter in the Moroccan city, enjoying a 3-0 lead with only a quarter of an hour remaining courtesy of goals from their attacking trio.
However, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, sparking hopes of a turnaround.
The drama intensified when the North Africans were given a late penalty after a video assistant referee check spotted a handling offense by the Nigerian defender. Ali Abdi converted in the dying stages to set up a frantic conclusion.
Tunisia were inches away from a last-gasp equalizer in stoppage time, with their skipper heading a chance just past the post before a substitute guided a bobbling volley wide of the upright.
Securing Top Spot
The victory means that the Super Eagles, champions of the competition on 3 past instances, move to six points and are guaranteed top spot in their pool with a match left to play.
In the next round, they will meet a best third-place team from one of Group A, B or F.
In the other match, Tunisia stay on three group points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on a single point after playing out a one-all stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The concluding group fixtures will see Nigeria remain in the city to play the Cranes on Tuesday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to the capital to face the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Conclusion
Ali Abdi smashed the ball from 12 yards to give Tunisia hope of snatching a draw.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the previous edition, become the second team after the Pharaohs to qualify for the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a straightforward final quarter morphed into a nerve-wracking conclusion.
The prolific striker had a effort ruled out for an infringement before breaking the deadlock right before the interval, precisely placing a header into the far post from an Atalanta winger cross.
The advantage was doubled early in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to power home a header from a Lookman corner.
The number 9 then set up his teammate for the third goal, before Montassar Talbi to steer a powerful header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the comeback.
The key incident arrived when a looping cross hit the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with referee Boubou Traore awarding a penalty after consulting the pitchside screen.
Despite the defender's confident conversion, Tunisia ultimately came up just short of pulling off a stirring comeback.
Their fate remains in their own hands; a point against Tanzania will be enough to secure progression, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be eager to prevent a repeat of the 2013 early elimination that led to his departure.
