The Super Eagles Book Afcon Last 16 Spot In Spite of Fierce Carthage Eagles Comeback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in Nigeria build a commanding advantage, but the Super Eagles were forced to hold on for a hard-fought victory.
The three-time champions weathered a stunning comeback attempt from Tunisia to advance to the last 16 of the Afcon tournament being held in Morocco.
The Super Eagles appeared to be cruising in their Group C encounter in the Moroccan city, enjoying a 3-0 cushion with just a quarter of an hour left courtesy of goals from their attacking trio.
Yet, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, igniting hopes of a recovery.
The tension escalated when Tunisia were awarded a late penalty after a VAR check identified a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the 87th minute to set up a frantic finale.
Tunisia were inches away from a stunning leveler in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a chance just past the post before a substitute guided a bobbling volley wide of the upright.
Securing Top Spot
This result ensures that the Super Eagles, winners of the competition on three past instances, move to six group points and are guaranteed top spot in their pool with a match still to play.
In the next round, they will face a third-placed team from either Group A, B or F.
Meanwhile, Tunisia stay on 3 group points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on a single point after playing out a 1-1 draw earlier on Saturday.
The final group matches will see Nigeria remain in the city to take on Uganda on Tuesday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to the capital to confront the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Conclusion
Ali Abdi smashed the ball from 12 yards to offer his team a glimmer of hope of earning a draw.
Nigeria, runners-up in the previous tournament, 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 comfortable final quarter morphed into a nerve-wracking conclusion.
Victor Osimhen had a effort disallowed for an infringement before opening the scoring right before the interval, expertly guiding a header into the far post from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The advantage was doubled early in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to thump in a header from a Lookman corner.
Osimhen then set up Lookman for the third goal, only for Montassar Talbi to direct a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the comeback.
The key incident arrived when a looping cross struck the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with referee Boubou Traore awarding a penalty after consulting the VAR monitor.
Despite the defender's confident conversion, the 2004 champions ultimately fell short of completing a stirring comeback.
Their fate is still in their control; a point against Tunisia will be sufficient to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to avoid a recurrence of the past group-stage exit that resulted in his departure.
