Nigeria Book Afcon Last 16 Spot Despite Fierce Tunisia Comeback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star helped Nigeria establish a commanding advantage, but the Super Eagles were forced to defend resolutely for a hard-fought win.
Nigeria survived a dramatic late rally from Tunisia to advance to the knockout stage of the Afcon tournament taking place in Morocco.
The Super Eagles seemed to be cruising in their Group C clash in Fes, enjoying a three-goal lead with only a quarter of an hour left thanks to strikes from their attacking trio.
However, a Tunisian defender pulled one back with a powerful header from a Manchester United midfielder free-kick, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The tension intensified when Tunisia were given a spot-kick after a VAR review spotted a handball by the Nigerian defender. Ali Abdi converted in the 87th minute to create a nail-biting conclusion.
The Carthage Eagles came agonizingly close from a last-gasp leveler in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a opportunity just past the post before a substitute sent a half-volley past the upright.
Clinching First Place
This result means that Nigeria, winners of the tournament on 3 previous occasions, advance to six points and are guaranteed top spot in their pool with one game still to play.
In the next round, they will meet a third-placed team from either the other preliminary groups.
Meanwhile, Tunisia remain on three group points, with the East African teams tied on a single point after playing out a one-all stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The concluding pool fixtures will see the group leaders remain in Fes to play the Cranes on Tuesday, while Tunisia travel back to Rabat to face the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Finish
Ali Abdi drilled home from the penalty spot to offer his team hope of snatching a draw.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the previous tournament, become the next team after the Pharaohs to reach the knockout stage, but their manager and fans will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What seemed set to be a comfortable final quarter morphed into a tense conclusion.
Victor Osimhen had a effort disallowed for an infringement before breaking the deadlock right before half-time, expertly guiding a header into the far post from an Ademola Lookman delivery.
The advantage was extended early in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to power home a header from a set-piece corner.
The number 9 then turned provider Lookman for the seemingly decisive goal, only for the defender to direct a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the comeback.
The key incident came when a high ball struck the forearm of the full-back, with the official pointing to the spot after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Despite Ali Abdi's confident conversion, Tunisia in the end came up just short of pulling off a remarkable recovery.
Their fate remains in their own hands; a point against Tunisia will be enough to secure progression, and their coach will be keen to avoid a recurrence of the past early elimination that led to his previous resignation.
