Nigeria Secure Africa Cup of Nations Knockout Spot In Spite of Fierce Carthage Eagles Fightback
Ex- African Footballer of the Year the Napoli star was instrumental in his team establish a commanding lead, but the Super Eagles were forced to defend resolutely for a narrow win.
The three-time champions survived a stunning 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 clash in the Moroccan city, enjoying a three-goal cushion with only a quarter of an hour left thanks to goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
Yet, a Tunisian defender reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, sparking hopes of a turnaround.
The drama escalated when the North Africans were given a spot-kick after a VAR review spotted a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. Ali Abdi converted in the 87th minute to set up a nail-biting finale.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a last-gasp equalizer in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a opportunity narrowly wide before a substitute guided a bobbling volley past the goal frame.
Clinching First Place
The victory ensures that the Super Eagles, winners of the competition on 3 past instances, move to 6 group points and are assured top spot in Group C with one game left to be contested.
In the next round, they will meet a third-placed team from one of the other preliminary groups.
Meanwhile, the 2004 champions stay on three points, with the East African teams locked on one point each after playing out a 1-1 draw earlier on Saturday.
The concluding pool matches will see Nigeria remain in Fes to play Uganda on the next matchday, while the Eagles of Carthage return to the capital to face Tanzania.
An Anxious Finish
The Tunisian defender drilled home from 12 yards to offer his team a glimmer of hope of snatching a draw.
Nigeria, runners-up in the 2023 tournament, are the second team after the Pharaohs to reach the knockout stage, but coach Eric Chelle and supporters will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a comfortable last period 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 glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The advantage was doubled soon in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to power home a header from a set-piece corner.
The number 9 then turned provider his teammate for the seemingly decisive goal, before the defender to direct a powerful header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the fightback.
The key moment came when a looping cross hit the arm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with referee Boubou Traore pointing to the spot after reviewing the pitchside screen.
Despite Ali Abdi's confident conversion, Tunisia ultimately came up just short of pulling off a remarkable comeback.
Their fate is still in their control; a point against Tanzania will be sufficient to secure progression, and their coach will be keen to avoid a repeat of the 2013 group-stage exit that resulted in his previous resignation.
