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Nigeria Book Afcon Knockout Place Despite Late Carthage Eagles Comeback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star helped his team build a 3-0 advantage, but the Super Eagles were forced to defend resolutely for a hard-fought win.
The three-time champions weathered a dramatic comeback attempt from their opponents to progress to the knockout stage of the Afcon tournament taking place in Morocco.
Jose Peseiro's side seemed to be in complete control in their pool clash in Fes, enjoying a 3-0 lead with only a quarter of an hour left courtesy of strikes from their attacking trio.
Yet, a Tunisian defender pulled one back with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, igniting hopes of a turnaround.
The tension escalated when the North Africans were awarded a late penalty after a VAR check identified a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. Ali Abdi converted in the dying stages to set up a frantic finale.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a stunning equalizer in added time, with their skipper directing a opportunity narrowly wide before a substitute sent a bobbling volley wide of the upright.
Securing First Place
The victory ensures that Nigeria, champions of the competition on three past instances, advance to 6 group points and are assured top spot in Group C with a match still to be contested.
In the next round, they will face a third-placed team from one of the other preliminary groups.
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 one-all draw in the day's other fixture.
The final group fixtures will see Nigeria stay in Fes to take on Uganda on the next matchday, while Tunisia travel back to the capital to confront Tanzania.
A Nervy Conclusion
Ali Abdi drilled home from 12 yards to offer his team hope of earning a point.
Nigeria, finalists in the previous edition, become the next nation after Egypt to qualify for the knockout stage, but coach Eric Chelle and supporters will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a comfortable final quarter transformed into a nerve-wracking affair.
Victor Osimhen had a goal ruled out for offside before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of the interval, expertly guiding a header into the far post from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The advantage was doubled early in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to power home a powerful nod from a set-piece corner.
Osimhen then set up Lookman for the third goal, before Montassar Talbi to direct a powerful header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the fightback.
The key incident arrived when a high ball hit the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with referee Boubou Traore awarding a penalty after consulting the pitchside screen.
Although the defender's confident conversion, the 2004 champions in the end fell short of pulling off a stirring comeback.
Their fate remains in their control; a point against Tunisia will be sufficient to see them through, and their coach will be eager to avoid a repeat of the past group-stage exit that led to his previous resignation.
Rita Jenkins
A financial strategist with over a decade of experience in wealth management and investment planning, dedicated to empowering others.
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