Nigeria Secure Afcon Last 16 Place Despite Fierce Carthage Eagles Comeback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in Nigeria establish a 3-0 advantage, before the Super Eagles were compelled to hold on for a hard-fought victory.
The three-time champions weathered a dramatic late rally from their opponents to progress to the last 16 of the Afcon tournament taking place in the host nation.
The Super Eagles appeared to be cruising in their pool clash in Fes, enjoying a three-goal lead with just a quarter of an hour left courtesy of goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
Yet, a Tunisian defender reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Manchester United midfielder free-kick, igniting hopes of a turnaround.
The tension escalated when the North Africans were given a spot-kick after a video assistant referee check spotted a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the dying stages to set up a frantic finale.
The Carthage Eagles came agonizingly close from a last-gasp leveler in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a chance narrowly wide before a substitute guided a half-volley wide of the upright.
Clinching Top Spot
The victory means that Nigeria, champions of the competition on 3 previous occasions, advance to six points and are assured top spot in Group C with a match left to play.
For the round of 16, they will meet a third-placed team from one of the other preliminary groups.
Meanwhile, the 2004 champions stay on three points, with the East African teams locked on a single point after playing out a one-all stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The concluding group fixtures will see Nigeria remain in Fes to play Uganda on the next matchday, while Tunisia travel back to Rabat to confront the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Conclusion
Ali Abdi drilled home from the penalty spot to give Tunisia hope of snatching a draw.
Nigeria, finalists in the previous tournament, become the second nation after the Pharaohs to reach the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a straightforward last period morphed into a nerve-wracking affair.
The prolific striker had a goal disallowed for offside before breaking the deadlock right before the interval, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the far post from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The advantage was doubled early in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to thump in a header from a set-piece corner.
The number 9 then turned provider his teammate for the third goal, only for the defender to direct a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the comeback.
The pivotal moment arrived when a looping cross hit the arm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with referee Boubou Traore awarding a penalty after consulting the pitchside screen.
Despite Ali Abdi's confident conversion, the 2004 champions in the end came up just short of completing a stirring comeback.
Their fate remains in their own hands; a draw against Tunisia will be enough to see them through, and their coach will be keen to prevent a recurrence of the 2013 group-stage exit that resulted in his previous resignation.
