Nigeria Book Afcon Knockout Place Despite Fierce Tunisia Comeback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped his team build a 3-0 advantage, before the Super Eagles were forced to defend resolutely for a hard-fought victory.
The three-time champions survived a dramatic comeback attempt from Tunisia to advance to the last 16 of the Afcon tournament taking place in Morocco.
The Super Eagles seemed to be in complete control in their pool encounter in the Moroccan city, holding a three-goal lead with only 17 minutes remaining thanks to goals from their attacking trio.
Yet, a Tunisian defender reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Manchester United midfielder free-kick, igniting hopes of a turnaround.
The tension escalated when the North Africans were awarded a late penalty after a video assistant referee review spotted a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back converted in the 87th minute to set up a frantic conclusion.
The Carthage Eagles came agonizingly close from a stunning equalizer in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a chance just past the post before a substitute sent a bobbling volley wide of the upright.
Clinching First Place
This result means that the Super Eagles, champions of the tournament on 3 past instances, move to 6 group points and are assured first place in Group C with a match still to be contested.
In the next round, they will meet a third-placed team from one of the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, Tunisia stay on three group points, with the East African teams tied on one point each after playing out a 1-1 stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The final group matches will see Nigeria stay in the city to play the Cranes on Tuesday, while Tunisia travel back to Rabat to face Tanzania.
An Anxious Conclusion
Ali Abdi drilled home from the penalty spot to offer Tunisia hope of earning a point.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the 2023 tournament, are the next nation after the Pharaohs to qualify for the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and supporters will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a comfortable last period transformed into a nerve-wracking affair.
The prolific striker had a goal disallowed for offside before opening the scoring on the stroke of the interval, precisely placing a glancing effort into the far post from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The advantage was extended soon in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to power home a header from a Lookman corner.
Osimhen then set up Lookman for the third goal, before Montassar Talbi to steer a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the fightback.
The pivotal moment arrived when a high ball struck the forearm of the full-back, with referee Boubou Traore awarding a penalty after reviewing the pitchside screen.
Despite the defender's successful penalty, the 2004 champions ultimately came up just short of pulling off a remarkable recovery.
Tunisia's destiny is still in their control; a point against Tanzania will be enough to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to avoid a recurrence of the past early elimination that led to his departure.
