Nigeria Book Africa Cup of Nations Last 16 Spot Despite Late Carthage Eagles Comeback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star was instrumental in Nigeria establish a 3-0 lead, before the Super Eagles were forced to hold on for a narrow victory.
The three-time champions weathered a stunning late rally from their opponents to progress to the knockout stage of the Afcon tournament taking place in Morocco.
The Super Eagles appeared to be cruising in their pool clash in Fes, holding a 3-0 cushion with only a quarter of an hour remaining thanks to strikes from their attacking trio.
However, Montassar Talbi reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Manchester United midfielder free-kick, igniting hopes of a recovery.
The drama intensified when Tunisia were given a spot-kick after a VAR check spotted a handball by the Nigerian defender. Ali Abdi converted in the 87th minute to set up a frantic conclusion.
The Carthage Eagles came agonizingly close from a last-gasp equalizer in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a chance just past the post before a substitute guided a bobbling volley past the goal frame.
Securing Top Spot
The victory means that the Super Eagles, champions of the tournament on 3 past instances, move to six group points and are guaranteed first place in their pool with one game still to be contested.
For the round of 16, they will meet a third-placed side from one of the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, the 2004 champions stay on three group points, with the East African teams locked on one point after registering a 1-1 stalemate earlier on Saturday.
The concluding group matches will see Nigeria stay in Fes to take on the Cranes on the next matchday, while Tunisia travel back to Rabat to confront the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Finish
Ali Abdi smashed the ball from the penalty spot to give Tunisia a glimmer of hope of snatching a draw.
The Super Eagles, finalists in the previous edition, become the second team after Egypt to qualify for the knockout stage, but coach Eric Chelle and fans will certainly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a straightforward final quarter transformed into a tense conclusion.
The prolific striker had a effort disallowed for offside before opening the scoring right before half-time, expertly guiding a header into the far post from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The advantage was extended soon in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to power home a header from a set-piece corner.
Osimhen then set up his teammate for the seemingly decisive goal, before Montassar Talbi to steer a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to begin the comeback.
The pivotal incident came when a high ball hit the arm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the official pointing to the spot after reviewing the pitchside screen.
Although the defender's confident conversion, the 2004 champions in the end fell short of completing a remarkable recovery.
Their fate remains in their own hands; a point against Tunisia will be enough to see them through, and their coach will be keen to avoid a recurrence of the 2013 group-stage exit that led to his departure.
