Nigeria Secure Africa Cup of Nations Last 16 Place In Spite of Fierce Carthage Eagles Fightback
Ex- African Footballer of the Year the Napoli star was instrumental in his team establish a 3-0 advantage, but the Super Eagles were forced to hold on for a hard-fought win.
Nigeria weathered a stunning comeback attempt from their opponents to progress to the knockout stage of the Afcon tournament being held in the host nation.
Jose Peseiro's side seemed to be in complete control in their Group C encounter in Fes, holding a 3-0 lead with just 17 minutes left thanks to goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
However, a Tunisian defender reduced the deficit with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The drama intensified when the North Africans were awarded a spot-kick after a video assistant referee check spotted a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the 87th minute to create a frantic finale.
The Carthage Eagles came agonizingly close from a last-gasp equalizer in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a opportunity just past the post before a substitute sent a bobbling volley past the goal frame.
Securing Top Spot
The victory means that Nigeria, winners of the competition on three past instances, move to 6 group points and are assured first place in Group C with one game still to be contested.
In the next round, they will meet 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 one point each after registering a 1-1 stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The concluding group matches will see Nigeria stay in the city to play Uganda on the next matchday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to the capital to confront Tanzania.
A Nervy Conclusion
The Tunisian defender smashed the ball from 12 yards to give his team a glimmer of hope of snatching a draw.
The Super Eagles, finalists in the previous tournament, become the second nation after the Pharaohs to qualify for the knockout stage, but their manager and fans will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What seemed set to be a straightforward final quarter transformed into a nerve-wracking affair.
The prolific striker had a goal disallowed for offside before breaking the deadlock right before the interval, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the far post from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The lead was extended early in the second half when Wilfred Ndidi climbed above everyone to thump in a header from a Lookman kick.
The number 9 then set up his teammate for the third goal, only for the defender to direct a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the comeback.
The key incident arrived when a looping cross hit the arm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with referee Boubou Traore pointing to the spot after consulting the pitchside screen.
Although the defender's confident conversion, Tunisia in the end came up just short of pulling off a remarkable comeback.
Their fate is still in their own hands; a point against Tanzania will be sufficient to see them through, and their coach will be keen to avoid a recurrence of the 2013 group-stage exit that led to his previous resignation.