Nigeria Secure Africa Cup of Nations Knockout Place In Spite of Late Tunisia Comeback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped his team build a 3-0 lead, before they were forced to defend resolutely for a hard-fought win.
Nigeria survived a dramatic comeback attempt from their opponents to progress to the last 16 of the Afcon tournament taking place in Morocco.
The Super Eagles appeared to be in complete control in their Group C clash in the Moroccan city, holding a three-goal lead with just a quarter of an hour remaining courtesy of goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
However, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, sparking hopes of a turnaround.
The tension escalated when Tunisia were awarded a spot-kick after a VAR review spotted a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back converted in the dying stages to create a frantic finale.
The Carthage Eagles were inches away from a last-gasp equalizer in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a opportunity just past the post before Ismael Gharbi guided a bobbling volley wide of the upright.
Clinching First Place
The victory means that the Super Eagles, winners of the tournament on three previous occasions, move to 6 group points and are assured first place in Group C with one game left to be contested.
For the round of 16, they will meet a third-placed team from one of the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, Tunisia stay on three points, with the East African teams tied on one point after playing out a one-all draw in the day's other fixture.
The concluding group matches will see the group leaders stay in Fes to play the Cranes on the next matchday, while the Eagles of Carthage return to the capital to confront Tanzania.
An Anxious Conclusion
The Tunisian defender drilled home from the penalty spot to give Tunisia a glimmer of hope of earning a point.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the 2023 edition, are the next team after the Pharaohs to qualify for the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will certainly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a straightforward final quarter transformed into a tense affair.
Victor Osimhen had a goal ruled out for offside before opening the scoring right before half-time, precisely placing a header into the far post from an Ademola Lookman delivery.
The advantage was doubled soon in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi climbed above everyone to thump in a powerful nod from a set-piece kick.
Osimhen then turned provider Lookman for the seemingly decisive goal, before the defender to steer a powerful header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the fightback.
The pivotal moment arrived when a high ball hit the arm of the full-back, with the official pointing to the spot after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Although Ali Abdi's successful penalty, Tunisia ultimately fell short of pulling off a stirring recovery.
Their fate remains in their control; a draw against Tunisia will be enough to secure progression, and their coach will be keen to prevent a recurrence of the past early elimination that resulted in his previous resignation.
