The Super Eagles Secure Afcon Knockout Place Despite Fierce Tunisia Comeback

Nigeria weathered a dramatic late rally from their opponents to advance to the knockout stage of the Afcon tournament being held in the host nation.

Jose Peseiro's side appeared to be in complete control in their pool clash in the Moroccan city, enjoying a three-goal cushion with just 17 minutes left courtesy of strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.

However, Montassar Talbi reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, sparking hopes of a recovery.

The tension escalated when the North Africans were given a spot-kick after a VAR review identified a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the dying stages to set up a nail-biting finale.

The Carthage Eagles came agonizingly close from a last-gasp leveler in added time, with their skipper directing a opportunity just past the post before Ismael Gharbi sent a bobbling volley wide of the upright.

Clinching First Place

The victory means that Nigeria, winners of the competition on three previous occasions, move to 6 points and are assured first place in their pool with a match still to be contested.

For the round of 16, they will face a best third-place team from either Group A, B or F.

Meanwhile, the 2004 champions stay on 3 points, with the East African teams locked on one point after registering a 1-1 draw in the day's other fixture.

The concluding pool matches will see the group leaders remain in Fes to take on Uganda on Tuesday, while Tunisia return to Rabat to face Tanzania.

A Nervy Conclusion

Nigeria, runners-up in the 2023 edition, are the second nation after the Pharaohs to qualify for the knockout stage, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will certainly be breathing a sigh of relief.

What seemed set to be a comfortable final quarter morphed into a nerve-wracking conclusion.

Victor Osimhen had a effort disallowed for offside before opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time, precisely placing a header into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger cross.

The lead was extended early in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder rose highest to power home a header from a Lookman kick.

Osimhen then set up Lookman for the seemingly decisive goal, only for Montassar Talbi to direct a powerful header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the comeback.

The key incident came when a looping cross hit the forearm of the full-back, with the official pointing to the spot after reviewing the pitchside screen.

Despite the defender's confident conversion, Tunisia in the end came up just short of pulling off a remarkable recovery.

Their fate remains in their own hands; a draw against Tanzania will be sufficient to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be eager to prevent a recurrence of the past early elimination that led to his previous resignation.