Nigeria Secure Africa Cup of Nations Last 16 Place Despite Fierce Carthage Eagles Comeback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star was instrumental in Nigeria establish a 3-0 lead, but the Super Eagles were forced to hold on for a narrow victory.
Nigeria weathered a stunning late rally from their opponents to progress to the knockout stage of the Afcon tournament being held in the host nation.
The Super Eagles appeared to be in complete control in their pool clash in the Moroccan city, holding a 3-0 lead with only a quarter of an hour remaining courtesy of strikes from their attacking trio.
However, Montassar Talbi reduced the deficit with a powerful header from a Manchester United midfielder set-piece, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The tension intensified when Tunisia were awarded a spot-kick after a video assistant referee check spotted a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. Ali Abdi converted in the dying stages to set up a nail-biting conclusion.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a last-gasp leveler in stoppage time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a opportunity narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi guided a half-volley wide of the goal frame.
Clinching Top Spot
The victory means that Nigeria, winners of the competition on 3 past instances, move to 6 points and are guaranteed top spot in their pool with a match left to play.
In the next round, they will face a third-placed side from either Group A, B or F.
In the other match, Tunisia remain on 3 points, with the East African teams locked on a single point after playing out a one-all stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The final group matches will see Nigeria remain in Fes to play the Cranes on the next matchday, while Tunisia return to Rabat to face Tanzania.
An Anxious Conclusion
Ali Abdi drilled the ball from 12 yards to offer his team a glimmer of hope of snatching a point.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the previous edition, are the next team after the Pharaohs to reach the knockout stage, but their manager and supporters will certainly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a straightforward last period transformed into a tense affair.
Victor Osimhen had a effort disallowed for offside before opening the scoring right before half-time, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger cross.
The advantage was doubled early in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to thump in a header from a set-piece corner.
The number 9 then turned provider his teammate for the seemingly decisive goal, before the defender to direct a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the comeback.
The key moment came when a high ball struck the forearm of the full-back, with the official awarding a penalty after consulting the pitchside screen.
Although the defender's confident conversion, the 2004 champions ultimately came up just short of pulling off a remarkable recovery.
Their fate is still in their own hands; a point against Tunisia will be sufficient to secure progression, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be eager to prevent a recurrence of the past group-stage exit that resulted in his departure.