Nigeria Book Africa Cup of Nations Knockout Spot Despite Fierce Carthage Eagles Comeback
Former African Footballer of the Year the Napoli star helped his team build a 3-0 advantage, before the Super Eagles were compelled to hold on for a narrow win.
The three-time champions weathered a stunning comeback attempt from Tunisia to progress to the knockout stage of the Afcon tournament being held in Morocco.
The Super Eagles seemed to be in complete control in their Group C clash in the Moroccan city, enjoying a 3-0 cushion with just a quarter of an hour left courtesy of goals from their attacking trio.
Yet, a Tunisian defender reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Manchester United midfielder free-kick, igniting hopes of a recovery.
The drama escalated when the North Africans were awarded a spot-kick after a video assistant referee review identified a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back converted in the dying stages to create a nail-biting conclusion.
The Carthage Eagles were inches away from a stunning equalizer in added time, with their skipper directing a chance just past the post before a substitute sent a bobbling volley past the goal frame.
Securing Top Spot
The victory means that the Super Eagles, winners of the tournament on three past instances, advance to six points and are guaranteed top spot in Group C with one game left to play.
For the round of 16, they will face a third-placed side from one of 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 draw in the day's other fixture.
The final group matches will see the group leaders remain in the city to play Uganda on the next matchday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to the capital to face Tanzania.
An Anxious Finish
Ali Abdi smashed the ball from 12 yards to give Tunisia a glimmer of hope of earning a point.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the previous tournament, are the second team after Egypt to qualify for the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and supporters will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What looked like set to be a straightforward final quarter morphed into a tense conclusion.
The prolific striker had a goal disallowed for an infringement before opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman delivery.
The lead was doubled early in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to power home a header from a Lookman corner.
The number 9 then set up his teammate for the seemingly decisive goal, before the defender to direct a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the comeback.
The key moment came when a looping cross hit the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official awarding a penalty after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Despite the defender's confident conversion, Tunisia ultimately fell short of completing a stirring comeback.
Tunisia's destiny remains in their control; a draw against Tanzania will be sufficient to see them through, and their coach will be keen to avoid a recurrence of the 2013 group-stage exit that resulted in his departure.