Nigeria Secure Africa Cup of Nations Knockout Spot In Spite of Late Tunisia Fightback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped his team build a commanding advantage, but the Super Eagles were forced to hold on for a hard-fought victory.
The three-time champions survived a dramatic comeback attempt from Tunisia to progress to the knockout stage 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 lead with only a quarter of an hour remaining thanks to strikes from their attacking trio.
Yet, a Tunisian defender pulled one back with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, sparking hopes of a turnaround.
The tension intensified when Tunisia were awarded a late penalty after a video assistant referee check identified a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the 87th minute to create a nail-biting finale.
Tunisia were inches away from a last-gasp leveler in stoppage time, with their skipper heading a chance just past the post before a substitute sent a bobbling volley wide of the goal frame.
Clinching Top Spot
This result ensures that Nigeria, winners of the tournament on 3 previous occasions, advance to six group points and are assured first place in their pool with one game left to play.
For the round of 16, they will meet a third-placed team from either Group A, B or F.
In the other match, the 2004 champions remain on three points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on one point each after registering a 1-1 stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The concluding pool matches will see Nigeria stay in Fes to play Uganda on Tuesday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to the capital to confront the Taifa Stars.
A Nervy Finish
Ali Abdi drilled home from 12 yards to give Tunisia a glimmer of hope of snatching a draw.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the 2023 edition, are the second nation after Egypt to reach the next phase, but their manager and supporters will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What seemed set to be a straightforward last period morphed into a tense conclusion.
The prolific striker had a effort ruled out for offside before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of the interval, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman delivery.
The lead was extended early in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to thump in a powerful nod from a Lookman kick.
The number 9 then turned provider his teammate for the seemingly decisive goal, only for Montassar Talbi to direct a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the fightback.
The pivotal incident arrived when a high ball struck the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with referee Boubou Traore awarding a penalty after consulting the VAR monitor.
Although the defender's successful penalty, Tunisia in the end came up just short of completing a stirring recovery.
Their fate remains in their own hands; a point against Tunisia will be sufficient to see them through, and their coach will be eager to prevent a recurrence of the 2013 group-stage exit that led to his departure.
