Nigeria Secure Africa Cup of Nations Last 16 Spot Despite Fierce Carthage Eagles Comeback
Ex- African Footballer of the Year the Napoli star helped Nigeria build a commanding lead, but the Super Eagles were forced to defend resolutely for a narrow victory.
The three-time champions survived a dramatic comeback attempt from their opponents to progress to the last 16 of the Afcon tournament taking place in Morocco.
Jose Peseiro's side seemed to be cruising in their Group C encounter in Fes, holding a 3-0 cushion with only 17 minutes remaining thanks to goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
However, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, igniting hopes of a recovery.
The drama escalated when the North Africans were given a late penalty after a video assistant referee check identified a handball by the Nigerian defender. Ali Abdi calmly slotted home in the dying stages to create a frantic conclusion.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a last-gasp equalizer in stoppage time, with their skipper directing a opportunity narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi sent a bobbling volley wide of the goal frame.
Clinching First Place
The victory ensures that the Super Eagles, winners of the competition on 3 previous occasions, advance to six group points and are assured first place in Group C with one game left to be contested.
In the next round, they will meet a best third-place team from either the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, Tunisia stay on three points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on a single point each after registering a one-all draw in the day's other fixture.
The final pool fixtures will see Nigeria stay in Fes to play Uganda on the next matchday, while Tunisia return to Rabat to face the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Conclusion
The Tunisian defender smashed home from 12 yards to give Tunisia hope of snatching a point.
Nigeria, finalists in the previous tournament, are the next team after Egypt to qualify for the knockout stage, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a comfortable final quarter morphed into a nerve-wracking conclusion.
Victor Osimhen had a goal ruled out for an infringement before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of the interval, precisely placing a header into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger cross.
The lead was doubled soon in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to power home a header from a Lookman corner.
Osimhen then turned provider his teammate for the third goal, only for Montassar Talbi to direct a powerful header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the comeback.
The pivotal incident arrived when a looping cross hit the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official pointing to the spot after reviewing the pitchside screen.
Although the defender's successful penalty, Tunisia in the end came up just short of completing a remarkable comeback.
Their fate remains in their own hands; a draw against Tunisia will be enough to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to avoid a repeat of the 2013 early elimination that resulted in his previous resignation.
