Nigeria Secure Africa Cup of Nations Knockout Place In Spite of Late Tunisia Fightback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star helped Nigeria establish a commanding lead, but the Super Eagles were forced to defend resolutely for a narrow victory.
The three-time champions weathered a dramatic late rally from Tunisia to progress to the knockout stage of the Afcon tournament taking place in Morocco.
The Super Eagles seemed to be in complete control in their Group C clash in Fes, enjoying a 3-0 lead with just a quarter of an hour left courtesy of strikes from their attacking trio.
Yet, Montassar Talbi pulled one back with a close-range finish from a Manchester United midfielder free-kick, igniting hopes of a recovery.
The drama escalated when Tunisia were awarded a spot-kick after a video assistant referee review identified a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back converted in the 87th minute to set up a frantic finale.
The Carthage Eagles were inches away from a last-gasp leveler in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a opportunity narrowly wide before a substitute guided a half-volley past the goal frame.
Clinching First Place
This result ensures that the Super Eagles, champions of the tournament on 3 past instances, move to 6 points and are guaranteed first place in their pool with one game left to play.
For the round of 16, they will face a best third-place team from one of the other preliminary groups.
Meanwhile, the 2004 champions remain on 3 points, with the East African teams locked on a single point after playing out a one-all stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The concluding group matches will see the group leaders remain in Fes to play Uganda on Tuesday, while Tunisia return to Rabat to face the Taifa Stars.
A Nervy Finish
The Tunisian defender drilled home from 12 yards to offer Tunisia a glimmer of hope of earning a draw.
Nigeria, runners-up in the previous tournament, are the second team after the Pharaohs to reach the next phase, but their manager and supporters will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a straightforward last period morphed into a nerve-wracking conclusion.
The prolific striker had a goal disallowed for an infringement before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, precisely placing a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The lead was extended early in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to thump in a powerful nod from a Lookman kick.
Osimhen then set up Lookman for the seemingly decisive goal, only for Montassar Talbi to steer a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the fightback.
The key moment came when a high ball hit the arm of the full-back, with referee Boubou Traore awarding a penalty after consulting the pitchside screen.
Despite Ali Abdi's successful penalty, the 2004 champions ultimately came up just short of pulling off a remarkable recovery.
Their fate is still in their control; a draw against Tunisia will be sufficient to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be keen to prevent a repeat of the past early elimination that led to his previous resignation.
