🔗 Share this article Nigeria Secure Afcon Last 16 Place In Spite of Fierce Tunisia Fightback Former Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen was instrumental in Nigeria establish a 3-0 advantage, but the Super Eagles were forced to defend resolutely for a narrow victory. The three-time champions weathered a stunning comeback attempt from Tunisia to advance to the last 16 of the Afcon tournament taking place in Morocco. The Super Eagles seemed to be cruising in their pool encounter in Fes, holding a three-goal lead with only 17 minutes remaining thanks to strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman. Yet, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, igniting hopes of a turnaround. The tension intensified when the North Africans were given a late penalty after a video assistant referee check spotted a handling offense by the Nigerian defender. Ali Abdi calmly slotted home in the 87th minute to set up a frantic finale. Tunisia were inches away from a last-gasp leveler in stoppage time, with their skipper heading a chance narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi guided a bobbling volley wide of the upright. Securing First Place The victory means that the Super Eagles, champions of the competition on 3 past instances, move to 6 points and are assured top spot in their pool with one game still to play. For the round of 16, they will face a third-placed side from either the other preliminary groups. In the other match, Tunisia stay on three group points, with the East African teams locked on one point each after playing out a one-all draw in the day's other fixture. The concluding group fixtures will see Nigeria remain in the city to take on Uganda on Tuesday, while the Eagles of Carthage travel back to the capital to face the Taifa Stars. A Nervy Finish The Tunisian defender drilled home from the penalty spot to offer his team a glimmer of hope of earning a point. The Super Eagles, finalists in the 2023 tournament, become the second nation after the Pharaohs to reach the next phase, but coach Eric Chelle and supporters will undoubtedly be breathing a sigh of relief. What looked like set to be a comfortable last period morphed into a tense affair. Victor Osimhen had a goal ruled out for offside before opening the scoring on the stroke of the interval, precisely placing a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger cross. The advantage was doubled early in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to thump in a powerful nod from a set-piece kick. Osimhen then set up his teammate for the third goal, only for the defender to direct a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the fightback. The key moment arrived when a high ball struck the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with referee Boubou Traore pointing to the spot after consulting the pitchside screen. Despite Ali Abdi's confident conversion, the 2004 champions ultimately came up just short of completing a remarkable comeback. Tunisia's destiny is still in their own hands; a point against Tunisia will be enough to secure progression, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to prevent a recurrence of the past group-stage exit that resulted in his previous resignation.