The Super Eagles Secure Afcon Last 16 Spot In Spite of Fierce Carthage Eagles Fightback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped his team build a 3-0 advantage, before they were compelled to defend resolutely for a narrow victory.
Nigeria weathered a stunning comeback attempt from their opponents to advance to the knockout stage of the Afcon tournament taking place in the host nation.
Jose Peseiro's side seemed to be in complete control in their pool clash in the Moroccan city, holding a 3-0 cushion with only 17 minutes remaining thanks to goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
Yet, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a close-range finish from a Manchester United midfielder set-piece, igniting hopes of a recovery.
The tension escalated when the North Africans were given a spot-kick after a video assistant referee check identified a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back converted 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 heading a chance just past the post before Ismael Gharbi guided a bobbling volley wide of the upright.
Clinching First Place
The victory means that Nigeria, champions of the competition on three previous occasions, move to six group points and are assured top spot in their pool with one game still to be contested.
For the round of 16, they will meet a third-placed team from one of Group A, B or F.
In the other match, the 2004 champions remain on 3 group points, with the East African teams locked on one point after playing out a 1-1 stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The final pool fixtures will see the group leaders remain in the city to take on Uganda on the next matchday, while Tunisia travel back to Rabat to confront the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Conclusion
The Tunisian defender drilled the ball from the penalty spot to offer Tunisia a glimmer of hope of earning a draw.
Nigeria, runners-up in the 2023 tournament, become the next nation after the Pharaohs to qualify for the next phase, but their manager and supporters will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a straightforward final quarter morphed into a nerve-wracking affair.
Victor Osimhen had a goal disallowed for an infringement before opening the scoring on the stroke of the interval, expertly guiding a header into the far post from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The lead was doubled soon in the second half when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to thump in a header from a set-piece kick.
Osimhen then set up Lookman for the seemingly decisive goal, before Montassar Talbi to steer a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the comeback.
The pivotal incident came when a high ball hit the arm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with referee Boubou Traore awarding a penalty after consulting the pitchside screen.
Although Ali Abdi's confident conversion, the 2004 champions ultimately came up just short of completing a remarkable comeback.
Tunisia's destiny remains in their own hands; a draw against Tunisia will be sufficient to secure progression, and their coach will be keen to prevent a recurrence of the past early elimination that resulted in his previous resignation.
