The Super Eagles Book Africa Cup of Nations Knockout Spot Despite Late Tunisia Comeback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped his team establish a 3-0 lead, before the Super Eagles were compelled to hold on for a narrow victory.
Nigeria weathered a dramatic late rally from their opponents to advance to the knockout stage of the Afcon tournament taking place in the host nation.
The Super Eagles appeared to be in complete control in their Group C encounter in Fes, holding a three-goal lead with just 17 minutes remaining courtesy of strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
Yet, a Tunisian defender reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Manchester United midfielder set-piece, igniting hopes of a turnaround.
The tension escalated when Tunisia were given a spot-kick after a video assistant referee check spotted a handball by the Nigerian defender. Ali Abdi converted in the 87th minute to set up a nail-biting conclusion.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a stunning leveler in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a chance just past the post before a substitute guided a bobbling volley wide of the upright.
Clinching First Place
This result ensures that Nigeria, champions of the competition on 3 past instances, move to six points and are guaranteed first place in their pool with one game still to be contested.
In the next round, they will face a third-placed team from either Group A, B or F.
In the other match, Tunisia stay on three group points, with the East African teams locked on a single point after registering a 1-1 stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The concluding group fixtures will see the group leaders remain in Fes to play Uganda on Tuesday, while the Eagles of Carthage return to the capital to confront Tanzania.
An Anxious Finish
The Tunisian defender smashed home from 12 yards to give Tunisia a glimmer of hope of earning a point.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the 2023 edition, are the next nation after Egypt to qualify for the knockout stage, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What seemed set to be a straightforward last period morphed into a nerve-wracking affair.
Victor Osimhen had a goal disallowed for offside before opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time, precisely placing a header into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger delivery.
The advantage was extended soon in the second half when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to thump in a header from a set-piece kick.
Osimhen then turned provider his teammate for the third goal, only for the defender to steer a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the comeback.
The pivotal incident came when a high ball hit the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official pointing to the spot after consulting the pitchside screen.
Although Ali Abdi's confident conversion, the 2004 champions in the end fell short of completing a remarkable comeback.
Their fate remains in their own hands; a point against Tunisia will be sufficient to secure progression, and their coach will be eager to avoid a recurrence of the past early elimination that led to his departure.
