Nigeria Secure Afcon Last 16 Place Despite Late Tunisia Comeback
Ex- African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in Nigeria establish a 3-0 lead, but the Super Eagles were forced to hold on for a hard-fought victory.
Nigeria weathered a dramatic late rally from Tunisia to progress to the last 16 of the Afcon tournament taking place in the host nation.
The Super Eagles seemed to be cruising in their Group C clash in Fes, enjoying a three-goal cushion with only 17 minutes left courtesy of goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
However, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, igniting hopes of a turnaround.
The tension escalated when Tunisia were awarded a late penalty after a VAR review spotted a handball by the Nigerian defender. The left-back converted in the dying stages to create a frantic conclusion.
Tunisia were inches away from a last-gasp leveler in added time, with their skipper directing a opportunity narrowly wide before a substitute guided a bobbling volley past the goal frame.
Clinching First Place
This result means that the Super Eagles, winners of the tournament on three past instances, advance to 6 points and are assured first place in Group C with a match left to be contested.
In the next round, they will face a third-placed team from one of the other preliminary groups.
Meanwhile, the 2004 champions remain on 3 group points, with the East African teams locked on one point after playing out a 1-1 draw earlier on Saturday.
The concluding pool fixtures will see the group leaders remain in Fes to play the Cranes on the next matchday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to the capital to confront the Taifa Stars.
A Nervy Conclusion
The Tunisian defender smashed the ball from 12 yards to offer Tunisia a glimmer of hope of snatching a draw.
Nigeria, runners-up in the previous tournament, are the next team after Egypt to reach the knockout stage, but their manager and supporters will certainly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a straightforward last period morphed into a tense conclusion.
Victor Osimhen had a goal ruled out for an infringement before opening the scoring on the stroke of the interval, expertly guiding a header into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger delivery.
The advantage was doubled soon in the second half when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to thump in a header from a set-piece corner.
Osimhen then turned provider Lookman for the third goal, only for the defender to steer a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the fightback.
The pivotal incident arrived when a looping cross struck the arm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official awarding a penalty after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Despite the defender's successful penalty, Tunisia ultimately fell short of completing a remarkable comeback.
Tunisia's destiny is still in their own hands; a draw against Tanzania will be sufficient to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be eager to prevent a repeat of the 2013 group-stage exit that led to his previous resignation.
