The Super Eagles Secure Africa Cup of Nations Knockout Spot In Spite of Fierce Carthage Eagles Comeback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star helped his team build a 3-0 advantage, before they were forced to hold on for a narrow victory.
The three-time champions weathered a dramatic late rally from their opponents to advance to the knockout stage of the Afcon tournament being held in the host nation.
The Super Eagles appeared to be cruising in their Group C clash in the Moroccan city, holding a 3-0 cushion with just a quarter of an hour left courtesy of goals from their attacking trio.
However, Montassar Talbi reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The drama escalated when Tunisia were given a spot-kick after a video assistant referee review spotted a handball by the Nigerian defender. The left-back calmly slotted home in the 87th minute to set up a nail-biting finale.
The Carthage Eagles were inches away from a last-gasp leveler in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a chance narrowly wide before a substitute sent a bobbling volley wide of the upright.
Clinching Top Spot
The victory means that Nigeria, champions of the tournament on three past instances, advance to 6 group points and are guaranteed top spot in Group C with one game still to play.
For the round of 16, they will meet a best third-place team from either Group A, B or F.
In the other match, the 2004 champions remain on three group points, with the East African teams locked on a single point each after registering a one-all stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The concluding pool fixtures will see the group leaders stay in Fes to play the Cranes on Tuesday, while Tunisia travel back to Rabat to confront Tanzania.
An Anxious Conclusion
The Tunisian defender drilled the ball from the penalty spot to offer his team hope of snatching a draw.
Nigeria, runners-up in the 2023 tournament, become the second team after the Pharaohs to qualify for the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and supporters will certainly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a straightforward final quarter morphed into a nerve-wracking affair.
The prolific striker had a goal disallowed for offside before opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time, precisely placing a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger delivery.
The lead was doubled soon in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to thump in a powerful nod from a Lookman corner.
The number 9 then turned provider his teammate for the seemingly decisive goal, only for Montassar Talbi to steer a powerful header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the fightback.
The key incident arrived when a high ball struck the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official pointing to the spot after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Despite Ali Abdi's confident conversion, Tunisia ultimately fell short of completing a remarkable comeback.
Their fate is still in their control; a point against Tunisia will be enough to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be eager to prevent a recurrence of the 2013 early elimination that led to his previous resignation.
