Nigeria Secure Afcon Knockout Spot In Spite of Fierce Tunisia Fightback
Former African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen helped his team build a 3-0 advantage, before the Super Eagles were compelled to hold on for a narrow win.
The three-time champions weathered a dramatic comeback attempt from Tunisia to advance to the last 16 of the Afcon tournament being held in Morocco.
Jose Peseiro's side seemed to be in complete control in their Group C encounter in Fes, holding a 3-0 cushion with only 17 minutes left courtesy of goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
However, Montassar Talbi reduced the deficit with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The drama intensified when Tunisia were given a late penalty after a VAR review spotted a handling offense by the Nigerian defender. The left-back calmly slotted home in the 87th minute to set up a nail-biting conclusion.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a last-gasp leveler in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a opportunity just past the post before Ismael Gharbi sent a bobbling volley wide of the upright.
Securing Top Spot
This result means that the Super Eagles, winners of the tournament on three previous occasions, advance to 6 group points and are guaranteed top spot in their pool with one game left to be contested.
In the next round, they will meet a third-placed side from one of the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, Tunisia remain on 3 points, with the East African teams tied on one point after registering a one-all stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The concluding pool fixtures will see Nigeria remain in Fes to take on the Cranes on the next matchday, while Tunisia travel back to Rabat to face Tanzania.
An Anxious Conclusion
The Tunisian defender drilled the ball from 12 yards to offer his team hope of snatching a draw.
Nigeria, runners-up in the 2023 edition, are the second team after Egypt to qualify for the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and supporters will certainly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a straightforward last period morphed into a nerve-wracking affair.
Victor Osimhen had a goal ruled out for offside before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of the interval, precisely placing a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman delivery.
The lead was extended early in the second half when Wilfred Ndidi climbed above everyone to power home 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 begin the fightback.
The key moment arrived when a high ball struck the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with referee Boubou Traore pointing to the spot after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Despite Ali Abdi's confident conversion, the 2004 champions in the end came up just short of completing a remarkable recovery.
Their fate remains in their control; a point against Tanzania will be enough to see them through, and their coach will be keen to prevent a recurrence of the 2013 early elimination that led to his previous resignation.
