The Super Eagles Book Afcon Last 16 Place Despite Late Carthage Eagles Comeback
Former African Footballer of the Year the Napoli star helped his team build a 3-0 lead, before they were compelled to hold on for a narrow victory.
The three-time champions survived a stunning comeback attempt from Tunisia to advance to the last 16 of the Afcon tournament taking place in Morocco.
The Super Eagles seemed to be cruising in their Group C encounter in the Moroccan city, enjoying a three-goal cushion with only 17 minutes remaining thanks to strikes from their attacking trio.
However, a Tunisian defender reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, igniting hopes of a recovery.
The tension intensified when the North Africans were awarded a late penalty after a video assistant referee check spotted a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. Ali Abdi calmly slotted home in the dying stages to set up a nail-biting finale.
Tunisia were inches away from a stunning leveler in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a chance just past the post before Ismael Gharbi sent a half-volley past the goal frame.
Securing Top Spot
The victory means that Nigeria, champions of the competition on three previous occasions, move to six points and are guaranteed top spot in Group C with one game still to be contested.
In the next round, they will meet a best third-place team from either Group A, B or F.
Meanwhile, the 2004 champions stay on three group points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on a single point each after registering a one-all stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The concluding pool matches will see Nigeria remain in the city to play Uganda on the next matchday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to Rabat to face the Taifa Stars.
A Nervy Conclusion
The Tunisian defender smashed the ball from 12 yards to give Tunisia hope of earning a draw.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the previous edition, are the next nation after Egypt to qualify for the next phase, but their manager 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.
Victor Osimhen had a effort ruled out for an infringement before opening the scoring on the stroke of the interval, precisely placing a glancing effort into the far post from an Atalanta winger cross.
The lead was extended early in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to power home a powerful nod from a set-piece corner.
Osimhen then set up his teammate for the seemingly decisive goal, only for Montassar Talbi to direct a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the comeback.
The pivotal moment arrived when a looping cross struck the arm of the full-back, with the official pointing to the spot after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Although the defender's confident conversion, the 2004 champions ultimately came up just short of pulling off a stirring comeback.
Their fate remains in their own hands; a draw against Tunisia will be enough to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be eager to avoid a recurrence of the past early elimination that led to his departure.
