The Super Eagles Secure Afcon Last 16 Place In Spite of Fierce Carthage Eagles Fightback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star was instrumental in his team establish a commanding lead, but the Super Eagles were forced to hold on for a hard-fought victory.
The three-time champions survived a stunning comeback attempt from their opponents to advance to the last 16 of the Afcon tournament being held in the host nation.
The Super Eagles seemed to be cruising in their pool clash in the Moroccan city, holding a 3-0 lead with only 17 minutes left courtesy of strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
Yet, Montassar Talbi reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Manchester United midfielder free-kick, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The tension escalated when Tunisia were given a late penalty after a video assistant referee review identified a handling offense by the Nigerian defender. The left-back converted in the dying stages to create a nail-biting finale.
The Carthage Eagles came agonizingly close from a last-gasp equalizer in added time, with their skipper heading a chance narrowly wide before a substitute guided a half-volley past the upright.
Clinching First Place
This result ensures that Nigeria, champions of the competition on 3 previous occasions, advance to six group points and are assured first place in their pool with one game still to be contested.
For the round of 16, they will meet a third-placed side from one of Group A, B or F.
Meanwhile, Tunisia stay on three points, with the East African teams tied on a single point after registering a 1-1 stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The concluding pool fixtures will see Nigeria remain in Fes to take on Uganda on the next matchday, while the Eagles of Carthage return to the capital to face Tanzania.
A Nervy Finish
Ali Abdi smashed home from 12 yards to give Tunisia a glimmer of hope of snatching a point.
The Super Eagles, finalists in the previous tournament, are the next nation after Egypt to reach the next phase, but their manager and fans will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a straightforward last period transformed into a nerve-wracking affair.
The prolific striker had a goal disallowed for an infringement before opening the scoring right before the interval, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger delivery.
The lead was doubled soon in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi climbed above everyone to thump in a header from a Lookman corner.
Osimhen then turned provider his teammate for the third goal, before the defender to steer a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the fightback.
The pivotal incident arrived when a looping cross struck the forearm of the full-back, with referee Boubou Traore awarding a penalty after consulting the pitchside screen.
Although Ali Abdi's successful penalty, Tunisia in the end came up just short of completing a stirring comeback.
Tunisia's destiny is still in their own hands; a draw against Tunisia will be sufficient to secure progression, and their coach will be eager to prevent a recurrence of the past early elimination that resulted in his previous resignation.
