Nigeria Book Afcon Knockout Spot Despite Fierce Carthage Eagles Fightback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star was instrumental in Nigeria build a commanding advantage, but they were compelled to hold on for a hard-fought win.
Nigeria weathered a stunning comeback attempt from Tunisia to progress to the knockout stage of the Afcon tournament being held in Morocco.
The Super Eagles appeared to be in complete control in their pool clash in Fes, enjoying a 3-0 lead with only a quarter of an hour remaining thanks to goals from their attacking trio.
Yet, a Tunisian defender pulled one back with a powerful header from a Manchester United midfielder set-piece, igniting hopes of a recovery.
The drama intensified when the North Africans were given a late penalty after a VAR check identified a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. Ali Abdi calmly slotted home in the dying stages to set up a frantic finale.
Tunisia were inches away from a stunning leveler in added time, with their skipper heading a chance narrowly wide before a substitute guided a half-volley past the upright.
Securing Top Spot
This result means that the Super Eagles, winners of the tournament on three past instances, advance to six group points and are guaranteed first place in their pool with one game still to be contested.
For the round of 16, they will face a third-placed team from one of Group A, B or F.
Meanwhile, Tunisia stay on 3 points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on one point after registering a 1-1 stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The final pool fixtures will see Nigeria stay in Fes to play Uganda on the next matchday, while Tunisia return to Rabat to confront Tanzania.
An Anxious Finish
Ali Abdi drilled home from 12 yards to offer Tunisia a glimmer of hope of earning a draw.
Nigeria, finalists in the previous tournament, become the next nation after the Pharaohs to qualify for the knockout stage, but their manager and supporters will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a comfortable final quarter transformed into a tense affair.
The prolific striker had a effort ruled out for an infringement before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of the interval, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the far post from an Atalanta winger delivery.
The lead was doubled early in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to thump in a header from a Lookman corner.
The number 9 then set up his teammate for the third goal, only for Montassar Talbi to steer a powerful header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the fightback.
The key moment arrived when a looping cross struck the forearm of the full-back, with the official pointing to the spot after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Although Ali Abdi's confident conversion, Tunisia in the end came up just short of pulling off a stirring recovery.
Their fate is still 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 2013 group-stage exit that led to his previous resignation.
