Nigeria Secure Africa Cup of Nations Knockout Place Despite Fierce Tunisia Comeback
Former African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen helped his team establish a commanding lead, but they were forced to hold on for a narrow win.
The three-time champions survived a dramatic comeback attempt from Tunisia to progress to the knockout stage of the Afcon tournament being held in the host nation.
The Super Eagles seemed to be in complete control in their pool encounter in Fes, enjoying a 3-0 cushion with only 17 minutes left thanks to strikes from their attacking trio.
However, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, igniting hopes of a turnaround.
The drama intensified when Tunisia were awarded a spot-kick after a video assistant referee review spotted a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. Ali Abdi converted in the dying stages to create a frantic finale.
The Carthage Eagles came agonizingly close from a stunning equalizer in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a opportunity narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi sent a half-volley past the goal frame.
Securing First Place
This result means that Nigeria, winners of the competition on three previous occasions, advance to 6 points and are assured first place in their pool with a match still to be contested.
For the round of 16, they will face a best third-place team from one of the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, Tunisia stay on three group points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on a single point each after playing out a one-all stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The concluding pool fixtures will see Nigeria stay in Fes to play Uganda on the next matchday, while Tunisia return to the capital to confront the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Finish
Ali Abdi smashed the ball from 12 yards to offer his team hope of snatching a draw.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the 2023 tournament, become the next nation after Egypt to reach the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and supporters will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What seemed set to be a comfortable last period transformed into a nerve-wracking conclusion.
Victor Osimhen had a goal disallowed for an infringement before breaking the deadlock right before the interval, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The lead was doubled soon in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to power home a powerful nod from a set-piece kick.
Osimhen then set up Lookman for the seemingly decisive goal, before Montassar Talbi to direct a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the comeback.
The pivotal incident arrived when a looping cross struck the arm of the full-back, with the official awarding a penalty after reviewing the pitchside screen.
Despite Ali Abdi's confident conversion, the 2004 champions in the end fell short of completing a stirring recovery.
Tunisia's destiny remains in their own hands; a point against Tanzania will be enough to see them through, and their coach will be eager to avoid a recurrence of the 2013 early elimination that resulted in his previous resignation.
