Nigeria Book Afcon Last 16 Place In Spite of Fierce Carthage Eagles Comeback
Ex- African Footballer of the Year the Napoli star helped his team build a commanding advantage, before the Super Eagles were compelled to defend resolutely for a narrow victory.
Nigeria survived a dramatic comeback attempt from their opponents to advance to the knockout stage of the Afcon tournament being held in Morocco.
Jose Peseiro's side appeared to be in complete control in their pool clash in Fes, enjoying a three-goal cushion with just a quarter of an hour left thanks to strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
Yet, Montassar Talbi reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Manchester United midfielder set-piece, sparking hopes of a turnaround.
The tension escalated when the North Africans were given a spot-kick after a VAR review spotted a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back converted in the dying stages to create a nail-biting conclusion.
The Carthage Eagles were inches away from a last-gasp equalizer in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a chance narrowly wide before a substitute sent a bobbling volley wide of the upright.
Clinching Top Spot
This result ensures that Nigeria, winners of the competition on 3 previous occasions, advance to 6 group points and are guaranteed top spot in Group C with one game left to play.
For the round of 16, they will face a best third-place team from either Group A, B or F.
Meanwhile, Tunisia stay on three points, with the East African teams locked on a single point each after playing out a 1-1 draw in the day's other fixture.
The final pool fixtures will see the group leaders remain in Fes to play the Cranes on Tuesday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to the capital to face Tanzania.
An Anxious Finish
The Tunisian defender smashed home from 12 yards to give his team a glimmer of hope of earning a point.
Nigeria, finalists in the previous tournament, become the second nation after Egypt to qualify for the knockout stage, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will certainly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a comfortable final quarter morphed into a tense affair.
Victor Osimhen had a goal 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 Atalanta winger cross.
The lead was extended early in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to power home a powerful nod from a set-piece corner.
The number 9 then turned provider Lookman for the third goal, only for Montassar Talbi to direct a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the comeback.
The pivotal moment arrived when a looping cross struck the arm of the full-back, with the official awarding a penalty after consulting the pitchside screen.
Despite Ali Abdi's successful penalty, Tunisia in the end came up just short of pulling off a stirring recovery.
Tunisia's destiny is still in their control; a draw against Tunisia will be sufficient to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to prevent a recurrence of the 2013 early elimination that led to his departure.
