The Super Eagles Book Africa Cup of Nations Knockout Spot Despite Late Carthage Eagles Comeback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star helped Nigeria establish a commanding lead, but they were compelled to hold on for a hard-fought win.
Nigeria weathered a stunning late rally from Tunisia to advance 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 encounter in Fes, enjoying a 3-0 cushion with only 17 minutes left thanks to strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
Yet, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, igniting hopes of a turnaround.
The tension escalated when Tunisia were given a late penalty after a video assistant referee check spotted a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. Ali Abdi converted in the 87th minute to create a frantic conclusion.
The Carthage Eagles were inches away from a stunning leveler in stoppage time, with their skipper directing a chance just past the post before a substitute sent a bobbling volley wide of the upright.
Securing Top Spot
The victory means that the Super Eagles, champions of the competition on 3 previous occasions, advance to six points and are guaranteed first place in their pool with a match still to play.
In the next round, they will face a third-placed team from one of the other preliminary groups.
Meanwhile, the 2004 champions stay on 3 points, with the East African teams locked on a single point after playing out a 1-1 draw in the day's other fixture.
The concluding group fixtures will see Nigeria remain in Fes to take on the Cranes on Tuesday, while the Eagles of Carthage return to Rabat to confront Tanzania.
An Anxious Finish
Ali Abdi drilled home from 12 yards to give his team a glimmer of hope of snatching a point.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the previous tournament, become the second nation after the Pharaohs to qualify for the knockout stage, but their manager and supporters will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a straightforward last period morphed into a nerve-wracking conclusion.
The prolific striker had a effort disallowed for offside before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of the interval, expertly guiding a header into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger cross.
The lead was doubled early in the second half when Wilfred Ndidi climbed above everyone to thump in a powerful nod from a Lookman kick.
Osimhen then turned provider his teammate for the third goal, only for the defender to direct a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the fightback.
The pivotal incident came when a high ball struck the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official pointing to the spot after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Although the defender's confident conversion, Tunisia in the end came up just short of completing a remarkable comeback.
Tunisia's destiny is still in their own hands; a draw against Tunisia will be enough to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to avoid a recurrence of the 2013 group-stage exit that led to his previous resignation.
