Nigeria Book Africa Cup of Nations Last 16 Spot Despite Fierce Tunisia Fightback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped his team build a 3-0 lead, before the Super Eagles were forced to hold on for a hard-fought win.
Nigeria weathered a stunning comeback attempt from Tunisia to advance to the last 16 of the Afcon tournament taking place in the host nation.
Jose Peseiro's side seemed to be in complete control in their pool encounter in the Moroccan city, enjoying a 3-0 cushion with only 17 minutes remaining courtesy of strikes from their attacking trio.
However, a Tunisian defender pulled one back with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The tension intensified when the North Africans were given a spot-kick after a video assistant referee check spotted a handling offense by the Nigerian defender. The left-back calmly slotted home in the dying stages to create a frantic finale.
The Carthage Eagles came agonizingly close from a last-gasp equalizer in added time, with their skipper directing a opportunity just past the post before Ismael Gharbi guided a half-volley wide of the upright.
Clinching First Place
This result ensures that Nigeria, winners of the competition on three previous occasions, move to six points and are guaranteed first place in Group C with one game still to play.
In the next round, they will meet a best third-place side from either the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, Tunisia stay on 3 points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on one point each after registering a one-all stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The concluding pool fixtures will see the group leaders remain in the city to take on the Cranes on the next matchday, while Tunisia return to the capital to confront Tanzania.
An Anxious Conclusion
The Tunisian defender smashed the ball from 12 yards to give Tunisia a glimmer of hope of snatching a point.
Nigeria, finalists in the 2023 edition, are the next team after the Pharaohs to qualify for the next phase, but their manager and supporters will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What seemed set to be a comfortable last period morphed into a tense conclusion.
Victor Osimhen had a effort disallowed for an infringement before opening the scoring right before the interval, precisely placing a header into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger delivery.
The lead was doubled early in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to power home a header from a set-piece corner.
The number 9 then set up his teammate for the third goal, only for the defender to steer a powerful header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the fightback.
The pivotal incident arrived when a looping cross hit the arm of the full-back, with the official pointing to the spot after consulting the VAR monitor.
Despite the defender's successful penalty, the 2004 champions ultimately came up just short of pulling off a remarkable comeback.
Their fate remains in their own hands; a point against Tanzania will be enough to secure progression, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to avoid a recurrence of the past early elimination that resulted in his previous resignation.
