Nigeria Book Afcon Knockout Spot Despite Fierce Carthage Eagles Fightback
Former African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in his team build a commanding lead, but the Super Eagles were compelled to hold on for a hard-fought win.
The three-time champions weathered a dramatic late rally from Tunisia to advance to the last 16 of the Afcon tournament taking place in Morocco.
The Super Eagles seemed to be in complete control in their pool encounter in the Moroccan city, holding a 3-0 lead with only a quarter of an hour remaining thanks to goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
Yet, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, sparking hopes of a turnaround.
The drama intensified when Tunisia were given a spot-kick after a video assistant referee review spotted a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back converted in the dying stages to create a frantic finale.
Tunisia were inches away from a last-gasp equalizer in stoppage time, with their skipper heading a chance narrowly wide before a substitute sent a half-volley wide of the upright.
Clinching Top Spot
This result means that Nigeria, champions of the competition on three past instances, move to six points and are assured top spot in their pool with one game left to be contested.
In the next round, they will face a third-placed side from either the other preliminary groups.
Meanwhile, Tunisia remain on 3 points, with Uganda and Tanzania locked on one point after registering a 1-1 draw in the day's other fixture.
The concluding group matches will see the group leaders remain in the city to play the Cranes on Tuesday, while Tunisia return to Rabat to confront the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Conclusion
Ali Abdi drilled the ball from 12 yards to offer his team hope of snatching a point.
Nigeria, finalists in the previous edition, become the next nation after the Pharaohs to qualify for the next phase, but their manager and fans will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What seemed set to be a comfortable last period morphed into a nerve-wracking conclusion.
The prolific striker had a effort disallowed for an infringement before opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time, expertly guiding a header into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger cross.
The advantage was extended early in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to thump in a header from a set-piece kick.
Osimhen then set up Lookman for the third goal, only for Montassar Talbi to direct a powerful header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the comeback.
The key incident arrived when a looping cross struck the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with referee Boubou Traore pointing to the spot after consulting the VAR monitor.
Although the defender's successful penalty, Tunisia in the end came up just short of pulling off a remarkable comeback.
Tunisia's destiny remains in their control; a draw against Tunisia will be enough to secure progression, and their coach will be eager to avoid a recurrence of the 2013 early elimination that led to his departure.
