Nigeria Book Africa Cup of Nations Knockout Spot In Spite of Fierce Tunisia Fightback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star was instrumental in his team establish a commanding advantage, before the Super Eagles were forced to defend resolutely for a narrow win.
Nigeria weathered a dramatic late rally from Tunisia to progress to the knockout stage of the Afcon tournament taking place in Morocco.
Jose Peseiro's side seemed to be in complete control in their Group C encounter in the Moroccan city, enjoying a 3-0 cushion with only a quarter of an hour left thanks to strikes from their attacking trio.
However, a Tunisian defender pulled one back with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri set-piece, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The drama intensified when Tunisia were given a late penalty after a video assistant referee review identified a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. Ali Abdi calmly slotted home in the dying stages to set up a frantic finale.
The Carthage Eagles came agonizingly close from a last-gasp equalizer in stoppage time, with their skipper directing a chance narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi sent a bobbling volley wide of the goal frame.
Clinching First Place
This result ensures that the Super Eagles, champions of the competition on 3 previous occasions, move to six points and are guaranteed first place in Group C with a match left to play.
For the round of 16, they will face a third-placed side from either the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, the 2004 champions stay on 3 group points, with the East African teams tied on a single point after playing out a 1-1 stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The final pool fixtures will see Nigeria stay in Fes to play Uganda on Tuesday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to Rabat to confront Tanzania.
A Nervy Finish
Ali Abdi drilled home from 12 yards to offer Tunisia a glimmer of hope of earning a draw.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the previous edition, are the next nation after the Pharaohs to reach the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and supporters will certainly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a straightforward final quarter transformed into a tense conclusion.
Victor Osimhen had a goal ruled out for an infringement before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger cross.
The lead was doubled soon in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to thump in a header from a Lookman corner.
Osimhen then turned provider his teammate for the third goal, before the defender to steer a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the fightback.
The pivotal incident arrived when a looping cross hit the arm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with referee Boubou Traore pointing to the spot after reviewing the pitchside screen.
Although Ali Abdi's confident conversion, Tunisia in the end came up just short of completing a remarkable recovery.
Tunisia's destiny is still in their own hands; a draw against Tanzania will be enough to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to avoid a repeat of the 2013 group-stage exit that led to his previous resignation.
