The Super Eagles Secure Africa Cup of Nations Last 16 Place In Spite of Late Carthage Eagles Fightback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star was instrumental in Nigeria build a 3-0 advantage, before they were forced to hold on for a hard-fought victory.
Nigeria survived a dramatic comeback attempt from Tunisia to advance to the knockout stage of the Afcon tournament being held in the host nation.
The Super Eagles appeared to be in complete control in their pool clash in Fes, holding a 3-0 cushion with just a quarter of an hour remaining courtesy of goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
Yet, a Tunisian defender reduced the deficit with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The tension escalated when the North Africans were awarded a spot-kick after a VAR review spotted a handling offense by the Nigerian defender. The left-back converted in the 87th minute to create a nail-biting conclusion.
The Carthage Eagles 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 past the upright.
Clinching Top Spot
The victory means that the Super Eagles, champions of the competition on three previous occasions, advance to 6 points and are assured first place in Group C with a match left to play.
In the next round, they will meet a third-placed side from either the other preliminary groups.
Meanwhile, the 2004 champions remain on three group points, with the East African teams locked on one point each after playing out a 1-1 draw earlier on Saturday.
The final group fixtures will see Nigeria stay in Fes to take on Uganda on the next matchday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to Rabat to face the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Finish
The Tunisian defender drilled home from 12 yards to offer Tunisia hope of earning a draw.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the 2023 edition, are the next nation after the Pharaohs to qualify for the knockout stage, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a comfortable final quarter morphed into a tense affair.
Victor Osimhen had a goal ruled out for offside before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, precisely placing a header into the far post from an Atalanta winger cross.
The lead was doubled early in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to thump in a header from a set-piece kick.
Osimhen then set up Lookman for the third goal, before Montassar Talbi to direct a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the comeback.
The key moment arrived when a high ball struck the arm of the full-back, with the official awarding a penalty after consulting the VAR monitor.
Despite the defender's confident conversion, the 2004 champions ultimately fell short of pulling off a remarkable comeback.
Their fate is still in their control; a point against Tunisia will be sufficient to secure progression, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be eager to avoid a repeat of the 2013 group-stage exit that resulted in his departure.
