The Super Eagles Book Africa Cup of Nations Last 16 Place In Spite of Late Tunisia Fightback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped his team build a 3-0 lead, but they were compelled to hold on for a narrow win.
The three-time champions survived a stunning late rally from Tunisia to progress to the knockout stage of the Afcon tournament taking place in Morocco.
Jose Peseiro's side seemed to be in complete control in their pool clash in the Moroccan city, enjoying a 3-0 lead with only a quarter of an hour remaining courtesy of strikes from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
However, a Tunisian defender pulled one back with a close-range finish from a Manchester United midfielder set-piece, sparking hopes of a turnaround.
The tension escalated when Tunisia were awarded a spot-kick after a VAR check spotted a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back converted in the dying stages to create a nail-biting conclusion.
Tunisia came agonizingly close from a stunning equalizer in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi directing a chance narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi sent a bobbling volley past the goal frame.
Securing First Place
This result ensures that Nigeria, champions of the tournament on 3 previous occasions, advance to six points and are guaranteed first place in their pool with one game still to play.
For the round of 16, they will face a best third-place side from either the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, the 2004 champions stay on three points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on one point after registering a one-all draw in the day's other fixture.
The final pool fixtures will see the group leaders stay in Fes to play the Cranes on Tuesday, while Tunisia travel back to the capital to confront Tanzania.
An Anxious Finish
Ali Abdi smashed the ball from 12 yards to offer his team hope of snatching a draw.
Nigeria, finalists in the previous tournament, become the next nation after Egypt to qualify for the knockout stage, but their manager and supporters will undoubtedly be feeling relieved.
What looked like set to be a comfortable final quarter transformed into a tense affair.
The prolific striker had a goal disallowed for an infringement before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, expertly guiding a header into the bottom corner from an Ademola Lookman cross.
The lead was extended soon in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to power home a header from a Lookman kick.
Osimhen then turned provider Lookman for the third goal, only for the defender to steer a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the comeback.
The pivotal moment arrived when a high ball struck the forearm of Bright Osayi-Samuel, with referee Boubou Traore awarding a penalty after consulting the VAR monitor.
Despite the defender's confident conversion, Tunisia ultimately fell short of completing a stirring comeback.
Tunisia's destiny remains in their control; a draw against Tunisia will be sufficient to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be eager to prevent a repeat of the past group-stage exit that resulted in his previous resignation.
