The Super Eagles Secure Afcon Last 16 Place In Spite of Fierce Tunisia Comeback

The three-time champions survived a dramatic late rally from Tunisia to progress to the knockout stage of the Afcon tournament taking place in the host nation.

Jose Peseiro's side appeared to be cruising in their pool encounter in the Moroccan city, holding a three-goal lead with only a quarter of an hour left thanks to strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.

However, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, sparking hopes of a recovery.

The drama escalated when the North Africans were given a late penalty after a VAR check spotted a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back converted in the 87th minute to set up a frantic finale.

Tunisia came agonizingly close from a stunning leveler in stoppage time, with their skipper heading a chance narrowly wide before a substitute guided a bobbling volley wide of the goal frame.

Clinching Top Spot

The victory means that Nigeria, champions of the competition on 3 previous occasions, move to six points and are assured first place in their pool with one game left to be contested.

In the next round, they will face a best third-place team from either Group A, B or F.

Meanwhile, Tunisia stay on 3 group points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on a single point each after playing out a 1-1 stalemate in the day's other fixture.

The concluding pool fixtures will see Nigeria remain in Fes to play the Cranes on Tuesday, while Tunisia travel back to the capital to face the Taifa Stars.

An Anxious Finish

The Super Eagles, finalists in the previous edition, are the next nation after the Pharaohs to qualify for the knockout stage, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will undoubtedly 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 an infringement before breaking the deadlock right before the interval, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger cross.

The advantage was extended early in the second period when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to thump in a header from a set-piece kick.

Osimhen then set up his teammate for the third goal, only for the defender to steer a powerful header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the fightback.

The key moment came when a looping cross hit the forearm of the full-back, with the official pointing to the spot after consulting the VAR monitor.

Despite the defender's successful penalty, Tunisia in the end fell short of completing a stirring recovery.

Tunisia's destiny is still in their own hands; a point against Tunisia will be enough to secure progression, and their coach will be keen to avoid a recurrence of the 2013 early elimination that resulted in his previous resignation.