The Super Eagles Book Afcon Knockout Place In Spite of Late Carthage Eagles Fightback

The three-time champions weathered a stunning late rally from Tunisia to progress to the knockout stage of the Afcon tournament being held in Morocco.

Jose Peseiro's side appeared to be cruising in their Group C encounter in Fes, enjoying a 3-0 lead with just a quarter of an hour remaining thanks to strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.

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

The tension escalated when Tunisia were awarded a late penalty after a video assistant referee check spotted a handball by the Nigerian defender. Ali Abdi calmly slotted home in the dying stages to create a nail-biting finale.

Tunisia were inches away from a stunning leveler in stoppage time, with their skipper directing a opportunity narrowly wide before a substitute sent a bobbling volley past the upright.

Clinching Top Spot

This result means that Nigeria, champions of the tournament on 3 past instances, move to 6 points and are guaranteed top spot in Group C with a match left to be contested.

In the next round, they will meet a third-placed team from one of Group A, B or F.

In the other match, Tunisia stay on three group points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on one point each after registering a one-all draw earlier on Saturday.

The concluding pool matches will see the group leaders remain in the city to take on Uganda on Tuesday, while Tunisia travel back to the capital to confront Tanzania.

An Anxious Conclusion

The Super Eagles, runners-up in the 2023 tournament, become the second team after the Pharaohs to reach the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.

What seemed set to be a straightforward final quarter transformed into a tense affair.

Victor Osimhen had a goal disallowed for offside before opening the scoring on the stroke of the interval, precisely placing a glancing effort into the far post from an Atalanta winger cross.

The lead was doubled early in the second half when Wilfred Ndidi rose highest to thump in a header from a set-piece kick.

The number 9 then turned provider his teammate for the third goal, before Montassar Talbi to steer a powerful header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the fightback.

The key incident arrived when a looping cross struck the forearm of the full-back, with referee Boubou Traore awarding a penalty after reviewing the VAR monitor.

Despite the defender's confident conversion, the 2004 champions in the end came up just short of completing a remarkable comeback.

Their fate is still in their own hands; a draw against Tanzania will be enough to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be eager to prevent a repeat of the 2013 group-stage exit that resulted in his previous resignation.