The Super Eagles Secure Afcon Knockout Place Despite Fierce Tunisia Comeback
Former African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen helped his team establish a 3-0 advantage, before the Super Eagles were forced to hold on for a hard-fought victory.
Nigeria survived a stunning comeback attempt from Tunisia 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 encounter in the Moroccan city, holding a 3-0 cushion with only 17 minutes remaining thanks to goals from their attacking trio.
However, Montassar Talbi reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Manchester United midfielder set-piece, igniting hopes of a turnaround.
The tension escalated when the North Africans were awarded a late penalty after a VAR check spotted a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. Ali Abdi calmly slotted home in the dying stages to set up a nail-biting finale.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a stunning equalizer in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a chance just past the post before Ismael Gharbi guided a bobbling volley wide of the upright.
Clinching Top Spot
This result ensures that the Super Eagles, champions of the tournament on three past instances, move to six points and are guaranteed top spot in Group C with one game left to be contested.
In the next round, they will face a best third-place side from one of Group A, B or F.
In the other match, Tunisia stay on three group points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on a single point each after playing out a 1-1 draw in the day's other fixture.
The concluding pool matches will see Nigeria stay in Fes to play Uganda on Tuesday, while Tunisia return to Rabat to face Tanzania.
A Nervy Conclusion
The Tunisian defender smashed home from 12 yards to offer his team hope of earning a point.
Nigeria, runners-up in the 2023 edition, are the next nation after Egypt to qualify for the next phase, but their manager and fans will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a straightforward final quarter morphed into a tense conclusion.
Victor Osimhen had a effort disallowed for an infringement before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, precisely placing a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger cross.
The lead was doubled early in the second half when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to thump in a powerful nod from a Lookman corner.
The number 9 then turned provider his teammate for the third goal, only for Montassar Talbi to steer a powerful header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the comeback.
The key moment arrived when a looping cross hit the forearm of the full-back, with the official pointing to the spot after consulting the pitchside screen.
Although the defender's confident conversion, Tunisia ultimately came up just short of completing a remarkable recovery.
Their fate remains in their control; a draw against Tanzania will be enough to secure progression, and their coach will be eager to prevent a recurrence of the past group-stage exit that resulted in his previous resignation.
