By Akinwale Kasali
Goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman were all the Super Eagles needed to book a place in the Round of 16 of the ongoing African Cup of Nations, AFCON, Tournament in Morocco.
The team defeated tye Carthage Eagles of Tunisia by three goals to two.
With the victory, the Super Eagles go top of its Group and became the first team at the ongoing Championship to garner Six Points and qualify for the next round with a game to spare against the Cranes of Uganda.
The Coach Eric Chelle team started the game brightly at the blast of the whistle, creating several chances, making the Tunisian defense busy.
Osimhen got the first goal late in the first half courtesy of a scintillating cross from Lookman which he nodded home to give the three-time AFCON Champions the lead.
In the second half, Ndidi added the second goal from a corner kick by Lookman, before the Atalanta of Italy forward scored the third goal, after receiving a scintillating pass from Osimhen to give the Super Eagles a comfortable three goal lead.
The Tunisians, however, pulled one back following a set piece from Hannibal Mejbri, which was converted by Montassar Talbi, who headed home to reduce the deficit.
The Carthage Eagles refused to capitulate as they piled more pressure to unsettle the Nigeria defence.
A late drama followed when the Video Assistant Referee, VAR, awarded Tunisia a penalty in the 86th minute followinga handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel, which Ali Abdi converted to make it 3–2 and set up a tense finale.
The Super Eagles absorbed the pressure from the Tunisians to end the game with a win.
Coach Chelle had made two changes from the Team that played the Taifa Stars of Tanzania with Bruno Onyemaichi and Frank Onyeka replacing Zaidu Sanusi and Samuel Chukwueze.
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