The Super Eagles Book Afcon Last 16 Spot Despite Fierce Carthage Eagles Fightback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped his team build a 3-0 advantage, before the Super Eagles were forced to defend resolutely for a narrow victory.
Nigeria weathered a dramatic comeback attempt from Tunisia to advance to the last 16 of the Afcon tournament being held in the host nation.
The Super Eagles seemed to be cruising in their Group C encounter in Fes, enjoying a three-goal lead with only 17 minutes left courtesy of strikes from their attacking trio.
However, Montassar Talbi reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, igniting hopes of a recovery.
The drama intensified when the North Africans were given a late penalty after a VAR review spotted a handling offense by the Nigerian defender. Ali Abdi calmly slotted home in the dying stages to set up a frantic finale.
Tunisia were inches away from a stunning equalizer in stoppage time, with their skipper directing a chance narrowly wide before a substitute sent a bobbling volley past the goal frame.
Clinching Top Spot
This result means that the Super Eagles, champions of the tournament on three previous occasions, move to six points and are assured first place in Group C with one game still to play.
In the next round, they will meet a best third-place team from either Group A, B or F.
In the other match, Tunisia remain on three group points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on a single point after registering a one-all draw earlier on Saturday.
The final pool fixtures will see Nigeria stay in Fes to take on Uganda on Tuesday, while the Eagles of Carthage return to Rabat to confront Tanzania.
A Nervy Finish
The Tunisian defender smashed home from 12 yards to give Tunisia a glimmer of hope of snatching a draw.
Nigeria, finalists in the 2023 tournament, become the second nation after Egypt to qualify for the knockout stage, but their manager and fans will certainly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a comfortable last period morphed into a tense affair.
The prolific striker had a goal ruled out for offside before breaking the deadlock right before half-time, expertly guiding a header into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The lead was doubled early in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to power home a powerful nod from a set-piece kick.
Osimhen then turned provider Lookman for the third goal, only for Montassar Talbi to steer a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the comeback.
The pivotal moment came when a looping cross hit the arm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official pointing to the spot after reviewing the pitchside screen.
Although the defender's confident conversion, the 2004 champions ultimately fell short of completing a remarkable recovery.
Tunisia's destiny remains in their own hands; a point against Tunisia will be sufficient to secure progression, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to avoid a repeat of the 2013 group-stage exit that led to his departure.
