Nigeria Book Afcon Knockout Place Despite Late Carthage Eagles Comeback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in his team build a 3-0 advantage, before the Super Eagles were compelled to hold on for a narrow win.
The three-time champions weathered a stunning comeback attempt from Tunisia to progress to the last 16 of the Afcon tournament being held in Morocco.
The Super Eagles appeared to be cruising in their Group C encounter in Fes, enjoying a 3-0 cushion with only a quarter of an hour left courtesy of strikes from their attacking trio.
Yet, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a powerful header from a Manchester United midfielder free-kick, igniting hopes of a recovery.
The drama escalated when Tunisia were awarded a late penalty after a VAR check spotted a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. Ali Abdi converted in the dying stages to set up a frantic finale.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a last-gasp equalizer in stoppage time, with their skipper heading a opportunity narrowly wide before a substitute sent a bobbling volley wide of the goal frame.
Securing Top Spot
This result means that Nigeria, champions of the competition on three previous occasions, 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 meet a best third-place side from one of Group A, B or F.
Meanwhile, Tunisia stay on three points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on one point each after playing out a one-all draw in the day's other fixture.
The concluding pool matches will see the group leaders remain in the city to play the Cranes on the next matchday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to Rabat to confront Tanzania.
A Nervy Conclusion
The Tunisian defender drilled the ball from 12 yards to give his team a glimmer of hope of earning a draw.
Nigeria, finalists in the 2023 edition, become the next team after Egypt to qualify for the next phase, but their manager and supporters will certainly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What seemed set to be a comfortable final quarter morphed into a nerve-wracking conclusion.
Victor Osimhen had a effort ruled out for an infringement before opening the scoring right before the interval, precisely placing a header into the far post from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The advantage was extended early in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to thump in a header from a Lookman kick.
Osimhen then set up Lookman for the seemingly decisive goal, before the defender to steer a powerful header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the fightback.
The key moment came when a high ball hit the arm of the full-back, with referee Boubou Traore pointing to the spot after consulting the VAR monitor.
Although Ali Abdi's successful penalty, the 2004 champions in the end came up just short of pulling off a stirring recovery.
Their fate remains in their control; a point against Tanzania will be sufficient to secure progression, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be eager to avoid a recurrence of the past early elimination that resulted in his previous resignation.
