The Super Eagles Secure Afcon Knockout Place In Spite of Fierce Tunisia Comeback
Ex- African Footballer of the Year the Napoli star helped Nigeria establish a 3-0 advantage, but the Super Eagles were compelled to defend resolutely for a hard-fought victory.
Nigeria weathered a dramatic late rally from their opponents to progress to the last 16 of the Afcon tournament taking place in Morocco.
The Super Eagles seemed to be cruising in their pool encounter in Fes, enjoying a three-goal cushion with only a quarter of an hour left courtesy of goals from their attacking trio.
Yet, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, sparking hopes of a turnaround.
The tension intensified when the North Africans were awarded a spot-kick after a VAR review spotted a handling offense by the Nigerian defender. Ali Abdi calmly slotted home in the 87th minute to set up a frantic finale.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a last-gasp equalizer in added time, with their skipper heading a chance narrowly wide before a substitute guided a bobbling volley past the upright.
Securing First Place
The victory ensures that the Super Eagles, winners of the tournament on three previous occasions, move to six points and are guaranteed first place in their pool with a match left to be contested.
For the round of 16, they will face a best third-place team from either the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, Tunisia stay on 3 group points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on a single point after registering a one-all draw earlier on Saturday.
The concluding group fixtures will see the group leaders remain in the city to play the Cranes on Tuesday, while Tunisia travel back to the capital to confront Tanzania.
A Nervy Finish
The Tunisian defender drilled home from the penalty spot to offer his team hope of earning a draw.
The Super Eagles, finalists in the previous tournament, are the second team after Egypt to qualify for the next phase, but their manager and fans will certainly be feeling relieved.
What seemed set to be a comfortable last period morphed into a tense conclusion.
Victor Osimhen had a goal disallowed for offside before opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time, expertly guiding a header into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger delivery.
The lead was extended soon in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to thump in a header from a set-piece corner.
Osimhen then turned provider his teammate for the seemingly decisive goal, only for Montassar Talbi to direct a powerful header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the fightback.
The key moment came when a high ball hit the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official awarding a penalty after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Although the defender's confident conversion, the 2004 champions in the end came up just short of pulling off a remarkable recovery.
Their fate is still in their own hands; a draw against Tanzania will be sufficient to secure progression, and their coach will be eager to avoid a repeat of the past group-stage exit that resulted in his departure.
