Nigeria Secure Afcon Last 16 Place Despite Fierce Tunisia Fightback
Ex- African Footballer of the Year the Napoli star helped his team establish a commanding lead, but the Super Eagles were forced to defend resolutely for a hard-fought victory.
The three-time champions weathered a stunning comeback attempt from Tunisia to advance to the knockout stage of the Afcon tournament being held in Morocco.
The Super Eagles appeared to be in complete control in their pool clash in the Moroccan city, holding a three-goal lead with only a quarter of an hour left courtesy of goals from their attacking trio.
However, a Tunisian defender reduced the deficit with a powerful header from a Manchester United midfielder set-piece, igniting hopes of a turnaround.
The drama intensified when Tunisia were given a late penalty 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 heading a opportunity just past the post before Ismael Gharbi guided a bobbling volley wide of the goal frame.
Clinching First Place
This result means that Nigeria, champions of the competition on 3 previous occasions, move to six group points and are guaranteed first place in their pool with a match still to be contested.
In the next round, they will face a third-placed team from either Group A, B or F.
Meanwhile, the 2004 champions stay on 3 group points, with the East African teams tied on one point after playing out a 1-1 stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The final group fixtures will see Nigeria stay in Fes to take on Uganda on the next matchday, while Tunisia travel back to the capital to confront Tanzania.
An Anxious Conclusion
Ali Abdi drilled the ball from the penalty spot to offer his team a glimmer of hope of snatching a point.
The Super Eagles, finalists in the 2023 tournament, are the next team after the Pharaohs to qualify for the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and supporters will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a straightforward last period morphed into a tense affair.
The prolific striker had a goal disallowed for an infringement before opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time, precisely placing a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger delivery.
The advantage was doubled soon in the second half when Wilfred Ndidi climbed above everyone to thump in a header from a set-piece kick.
The number 9 then set up his teammate for the seemingly decisive goal, before the defender to direct a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the comeback.
The pivotal incident came when a high ball struck the arm of the full-back, with referee Boubou Traore awarding a penalty after reviewing the pitchside screen.
Despite Ali Abdi's successful penalty, Tunisia in the end fell short of completing a stirring comeback.
Their fate is still in their control; a point against Tunisia will be enough to secure progression, and their coach will be keen to prevent a recurrence of the 2013 group-stage exit that resulted in his departure.
