Nigeria edges past Tunisia after big lead slips
Nigeria put on an impressive display of attacking prowess but had to hang on in the end for a narrow 3-2 win over Tunisia at the Africa Cup of Nations, becoming the second team to make sure of a place in the Round of 16.
Victor Osimhen opened the scoring a minute before half-time and captain Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman added two more after the break.
But Tunisia staged a late comeback with goals from defenders Montassar Talbi and Ali Abdi that set up a frenetic finish.
It was Nigeria's second win in Group C and ensures it will top the standings, even with one match still to play in the group stage.
Its six-point haul is three more than second-placed Tunisia with Tanzania and Uganda, who drew 1-1 in Rabat earlier, on one point each.
Osimhen had a series of narrow misses from as early as the eighth minute as Nigeria came out of the starting blocks swarming all over Tunisia.
But it took until the 44th minute for the striker, wearing his customary mask to protect his cheekbone, to score as he rose at the back post to head home Lookman’s cross.
Nigeria was 2-0 up five minutes into the second half when Ndidi soared high above the Tunisia defence to head home from a corner.
Osimhen turned provider for Nigeria's third in the 67th minute, dragging the ball into the path of Lookman, who looked initially to have spurned a good opportunity but after hesitating was still able to get a shot away and it went in off the post.
Tunisia pulled the first goal back in the 74th minute as Hannibal Mejri's free-kick was met by Talbi and the error-prone Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali slipped in his efforts to stop it.
Tunisia won a fortunate penalty with five minutes left as the ball hit Bright Osayi-Samuel's hand as he was trying to head clear.
The spot-kick was thrashed home by Abdi, setting up a late surge from Tunisia with Ferjani Sassi's header deep in stoppage-time inches away from a dramatic equaliser.
Egypt was the first team into the Round of 16 last week when it beat South Africa 1-0 to make sure of top place in Group B.
Nigeria stays in Fes for its last group game on Wednesday (AEDT) against Uganda while Tanzania and Tunisia will clash at the same time in Rabat.
