Nigeria Secure Africa Cup of Nations Knockout Spot Despite Fierce Carthage Eagles Fightback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in his team build a 3-0 advantage, before the Super Eagles were forced to defend resolutely for a hard-fought win.
The three-time champions weathered a stunning comeback attempt from their opponents to advance to the last 16 of the Afcon tournament taking place in the host nation.
The Super Eagles appeared to be in complete control in their Group C encounter in Fes, enjoying a three-goal lead with only a quarter of an hour left courtesy of strikes from their attacking trio.
Yet, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, igniting hopes of a turnaround.
The tension intensified when Tunisia were given a spot-kick after a VAR review identified a handball by the Nigerian defender. Ali Abdi converted in the dying stages to create a nail-biting conclusion.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a stunning equalizer in stoppage time, with their skipper directing a opportunity just past the post before Ismael Gharbi guided a bobbling volley past the upright.
Securing Top Spot
This result ensures that Nigeria, winners of the tournament on three previous occasions, move to six points and are guaranteed top spot in their pool with one game still to be contested.
In the next round, they will face a best third-place team from one of Group A, B or F.
Meanwhile, Tunisia remain on 3 group points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on a single point after registering a 1-1 draw earlier on Saturday.
The final pool matches will see Nigeria stay in the city to play Uganda on the next matchday, while Tunisia travel back to the capital to face the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Conclusion
Ali Abdi drilled the ball from the penalty spot to give his team a glimmer of hope of earning a point.
The Super Eagles, finalists in the 2023 edition, become the second nation after the Pharaohs to reach the knockout stage, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will certainly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a comfortable final quarter morphed into a tense affair.
The prolific striker had a effort disallowed for an infringement before opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time, precisely placing a glancing effort into the far post from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The lead was doubled soon in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to power home a header from a set-piece kick.
Osimhen then turned provider his teammate for the third goal, only for Montassar Talbi to steer a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the comeback.
The key incident arrived when a high ball hit the arm of the full-back, with referee Boubou Traore pointing to the spot after consulting the VAR monitor.
Despite the defender's successful penalty, the 2004 champions in the end fell short of completing a stirring recovery.
Tunisia's destiny remains in their control; a point against Tunisia will be sufficient to see them through, and their coach will be keen to prevent a recurrence of the past early elimination that resulted in his departure.
