The Super Eagles Book Afcon Knockout Spot Despite Late Tunisia Comeback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in Nigeria establish a commanding advantage, but they were compelled to hold on for a hard-fought win.
Nigeria weathered a stunning late rally from Tunisia to progress to the knockout stage of the Afcon tournament taking place in Morocco.
The Super Eagles seemed to be cruising in their Group C clash in Fes, holding a 3-0 cushion with just a quarter of an hour left thanks to goals from their attacking trio.
However, Montassar Talbi reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, igniting hopes of a recovery.
The tension escalated when Tunisia were awarded a spot-kick after a VAR review identified a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. Ali Abdi calmly slotted home in the dying stages to set up a nail-biting conclusion.
The Carthage Eagles were inches away from a last-gasp leveler in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a opportunity narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi sent a half-volley wide of the goal frame.
Securing Top Spot
This result means that Nigeria, winners of the tournament on three previous occasions, move to six points and are assured 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.
Meanwhile, the 2004 champions remain on three points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on one point each after playing out a one-all stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The concluding pool matches will see the group leaders remain in the city to take on Uganda on the next matchday, while the Eagles of Carthage return to Rabat to face Tanzania.
A Nervy Finish
Ali Abdi drilled the ball from 12 yards to offer his team hope of earning a point.
The Super Eagles, finalists in the previous tournament, are the second team after the Pharaohs to reach the knockout stage, but coach Eric Chelle and supporters will certainly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a comfortable final quarter morphed into a tense affair.
The prolific striker had a effort disallowed for offside before opening the scoring right before the interval, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman delivery.
The lead was doubled soon in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to power home a header from a Lookman kick.
Osimhen then set up Lookman for the seemingly decisive goal, before Montassar Talbi to steer a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the fightback.
The pivotal incident arrived when a high ball struck the arm of the full-back, with referee Boubou Traore awarding a penalty after reviewing the pitchside screen.
Although the defender's confident conversion, the 2004 champions in the end came up just short of completing a remarkable recovery.
Their fate is still in their control; a draw against Tanzania will be enough to secure progression, and their coach will be eager to avoid a recurrence of the past early elimination that led to his previous resignation.
