The Super Eagles Secure Afcon Knockout Place In Spite of Late Carthage Eagles Fightback
Former African Footballer of the Year the Napoli star helped his team establish a 3-0 lead, before the Super Eagles were forced to defend resolutely for a narrow victory.
The three-time champions weathered a dramatic late rally from their opponents to advance to the last 16 of the Afcon tournament being held in Morocco.
The Super Eagles appeared to be in complete control in their Group C clash in the Moroccan city, holding a three-goal cushion with only a quarter of an hour left thanks to strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
However, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The drama escalated when Tunisia were awarded a late penalty after a video assistant referee check spotted a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the dying stages to set up a nail-biting finale.
Tunisia were inches away from a last-gasp leveler in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a opportunity narrowly wide before a substitute sent a half-volley past the upright.
Securing Top Spot
The victory means that the Super Eagles, winners of the tournament on three previous occasions, advance to six points and are guaranteed top spot in their pool with a match still to be contested.
For the round of 16, they will face a third-placed side from one of the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, the 2004 champions stay on 3 points, with the East African teams tied on one point each after playing out a 1-1 draw earlier on Saturday.
The concluding group matches will see the group leaders stay in the city to take on Uganda on Tuesday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to the capital to confront Tanzania.
A Nervy Conclusion
The Tunisian defender smashed home from 12 yards to offer Tunisia a glimmer of hope of earning a draw.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the previous edition, are the next nation after the Pharaohs to qualify for the next phase, but their manager and fans will certainly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a comfortable last period transformed into a tense conclusion.
Victor Osimhen had a goal ruled out for offside before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the far post from an Atalanta winger delivery.
The lead was extended soon in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi climbed above everyone to power home a powerful nod from a Lookman kick.
Osimhen then set up his teammate for the third goal, before Montassar Talbi to steer a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the comeback.
The pivotal incident arrived when a looping cross struck the arm of the full-back, with referee Boubou Traore pointing to the spot after consulting the pitchside screen.
Despite Ali Abdi's confident conversion, the 2004 champions ultimately fell short of pulling off a remarkable recovery.
Their fate remains in their own hands; a point against Tanzania will be enough to see them through, and their coach will be eager to avoid a recurrence of the past early elimination that resulted in his departure.
