🔗 Share this article Nigeria Secure Afcon Knockout Spot In Spite of Fierce Tunisia Fightback Former Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped his team build a 3-0 lead, before they were compelled to defend resolutely for a narrow win. The three-time champions survived a stunning late rally from their opponents to advance to the last 16 of the Afcon tournament taking place in the host nation. Jose Peseiro's side seemed to be cruising in their pool clash in Fes, holding a 3-0 lead with just 17 minutes remaining courtesy of strikes from their attacking trio. However, Montassar Talbi reduced the deficit with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, igniting hopes of a turnaround. The drama escalated when the North Africans were given a spot-kick after a video assistant referee check spotted a handling offense by Bright Osayi-Samuel. Ali Abdi calmly slotted home in the dying stages to set up a nail-biting finale. Tunisia came agonizingly close from a last-gasp equalizer in stoppage time, with their skipper heading a opportunity just past the post before a substitute sent a bobbling volley wide of the upright. Clinching First Place This result means that Nigeria, winners of the tournament on 3 previous occasions, move to 6 points and are guaranteed top spot in their pool with a match still to play. For the round of 16, they will meet a best third-place side from either Group A, B or F. In the other match, Tunisia stay on three group points, with the East African teams locked on one point after registering a one-all draw earlier on Saturday. The concluding pool matches will see Nigeria stay in Fes to take on Uganda on the next matchday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to the capital to confront Tanzania. A Nervy Conclusion The Tunisian defender drilled the ball from 12 yards to give Tunisia a glimmer of hope of snatching a draw. Nigeria, runners-up in the 2023 tournament, become the second team after the Pharaohs to qualify for the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and supporters will certainly be breathing a sigh of relief. What seemed set to be a comfortable final quarter morphed into a tense conclusion. Victor Osimhen had a effort ruled out for an infringement before opening the scoring right before half-time, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman delivery. The lead was extended early in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to power home a header from a Lookman kick. The number 9 then set up his teammate for the seemingly decisive goal, only for the defender to steer a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to initiate the comeback. The pivotal incident came when a looping cross struck the forearm of the full-back, with the official awarding a penalty after consulting the VAR monitor. Although Ali Abdi's successful penalty, the 2004 champions in the end came up just short of completing a remarkable recovery. Their fate is still in their own hands; a point against Tanzania will be sufficient to see them through, and their coach will be eager to avoid a repeat of the 2013 early elimination that led to his previous resignation.