Nigeria Secure Africa Cup of Nations Last 16 Spot Despite Fierce Carthage Eagles Fightback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped his team build a 3-0 lead, before the Super Eagles were compelled to hold on for a hard-fought victory.
Nigeria weathered a dramatic comeback attempt from Tunisia to advance to the last 16 of the Afcon tournament taking place in the host nation.
Jose Peseiro's side seemed to be cruising in their Group C clash in Fes, enjoying a 3-0 cushion with only 17 minutes left thanks to strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
However, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, igniting hopes of a turnaround.
The tension escalated when the North Africans were awarded a spot-kick after a video assistant referee review identified a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back converted in the dying stages to set up a frantic finale.
The Carthage Eagles were inches away from a last-gasp equalizer in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a opportunity just past the post before Ismael Gharbi sent a half-volley wide of the goal frame.
Securing Top Spot
The victory means that the Super Eagles, winners of the competition on 3 previous occasions, advance to 6 group points and are guaranteed top spot in Group C with one game still to be contested.
For the round of 16, they will face a best third-place team from either the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, Tunisia stay on 3 points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on a single point each after playing out a one-all draw in the day's other fixture.
The final pool fixtures will see Nigeria remain in Fes to take on the Cranes on the next matchday, while Tunisia travel back to Rabat to confront Tanzania.
An Anxious Conclusion
Ali Abdi drilled home from 12 yards to offer Tunisia a glimmer of hope of earning a point.
Nigeria, runners-up in the previous edition, are the next team after Egypt to qualify for the knockout stage, but coach Eric Chelle and supporters will certainly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a comfortable last period morphed into a nerve-wracking affair.
Victor Osimhen had a goal disallowed for an infringement before opening the scoring on the stroke of the interval, precisely placing a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger cross.
The advantage was doubled early in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to thump in a header from a set-piece corner.
The number 9 then set up his teammate for the third goal, before Montassar Talbi to direct a powerful header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the fightback.
The key incident came when a high ball struck the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official awarding a penalty after consulting the pitchside screen.
Although the defender's successful penalty, Tunisia in the end fell short of completing a stirring comeback.
Tunisia's destiny remains in their own hands; a point against Tunisia will be sufficient to secure progression, and their coach will be eager to avoid a recurrence of the 2013 group-stage exit that led to his previous resignation.
