Nigeria Secure Afcon Knockout Place In Spite of Fierce Carthage Eagles Fightback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped his team establish a commanding lead, before the Super Eagles were forced to defend resolutely for a narrow victory.
Nigeria survived a dramatic late rally from their opponents to progress to the knockout stage of the Afcon tournament taking place in the host nation.
Jose Peseiro's side seemed to be cruising in their Group C clash in the Moroccan city, enjoying a three-goal lead with just 17 minutes left thanks to strikes from their attacking trio.
However, a Tunisian defender pulled one back with a powerful header from a Manchester United midfielder free-kick, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The tension escalated when Tunisia were awarded a spot-kick after a VAR review spotted a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the dying stages to set up a frantic conclusion.
The Carthage Eagles came agonizingly close from a stunning equalizer in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a opportunity narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi guided a bobbling volley past the upright.
Securing First Place
The victory means that Nigeria, champions of the tournament on 3 previous occasions, advance to 6 group points and are guaranteed first place in their pool with a match still to play.
In the next round, they will face a best third-place side from either the other preliminary groups.
Meanwhile, Tunisia remain on three points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on a single point each after playing out a 1-1 draw earlier on Saturday.
The final group fixtures will see the group leaders stay in the city to take on the Cranes on the next matchday, while Tunisia travel back to Rabat to face the Taifa Stars.
A Nervy Conclusion
The Tunisian defender smashed home from the penalty spot to offer his team a glimmer of hope of snatching a point.
Nigeria, runners-up in the previous tournament, become the second nation after the Pharaohs to reach the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and supporters will certainly be feeling relieved.
What seemed set to be a straightforward final quarter morphed into a nerve-wracking conclusion.
Victor Osimhen had a effort ruled out for an infringement before opening the scoring on the stroke of the interval, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the far post from an Ademola Lookman delivery.
The lead was doubled early in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to thump in a header from a set-piece corner.
Osimhen then set up Lookman for the third goal, only for Montassar Talbi to steer a powerful header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the comeback.
The key incident arrived when a looping cross struck the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official awarding a penalty after consulting the pitchside screen.
Although the defender's confident conversion, Tunisia ultimately fell short of completing a remarkable recovery.
Tunisia's destiny remains in their own hands; a point against Tanzania will be sufficient to see them through, and their coach will be eager to avoid a repeat of the past group-stage exit that led to his departure.
