The Super Eagles Book Afcon Knockout Place In Spite of Fierce Carthage Eagles Comeback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped his team build a 3-0 lead, before the Super Eagles were forced to hold on 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 seemed to be in complete control in their pool encounter in the Moroccan city, holding a 3-0 lead with only 17 minutes left thanks to goals from their attacking trio.
However, a Tunisian defender pulled one back with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, sparking hopes of a turnaround.
The drama intensified when the North Africans were awarded a late penalty after a video assistant referee check identified a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back converted in the 87th minute to create a nail-biting finale.
The Carthage Eagles were inches away from a stunning equalizer in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a chance narrowly wide before a substitute sent a half-volley wide of the upright.
Securing First Place
The victory means that Nigeria, winners of the tournament on 3 past instances, move to 6 group points and are assured first place in their pool with a match still to play.
For the round of 16, they will face a best third-place side from one of the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, Tunisia stay on three points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on one point after playing out a one-all stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The final pool matches will see the group leaders remain in Fes to take on the Cranes on the next matchday, while Tunisia travel back to the capital to confront the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Conclusion
Ali Abdi smashed the ball from the penalty spot to give his team a glimmer of hope of earning a point.
Nigeria, runners-up in the 2023 tournament, become the next team 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 final quarter morphed into a tense conclusion.
The prolific striker had a effort disallowed for an infringement before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, expertly guiding a header into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger cross.
The advantage was doubled soon in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi climbed above everyone to power home a header from a Lookman corner.
The number 9 then turned provider Lookman for the seemingly decisive goal, before the defender to direct a powerful header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the fightback.
The key incident came when a high ball struck the forearm of the full-back, with the official pointing to the spot after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Although Ali Abdi's successful penalty, the 2004 champions ultimately came up just short of completing a stirring comeback.
Tunisia's destiny is still in their own hands; a point against Tunisia will be enough to see them through, and their coach will be keen to prevent a recurrence of the 2013 early elimination that led to his departure.
