*Ndidi shows his dancing steps after scoring his first goal for Nigeria at senior level.

*Eagles celebrate after Lookman, who emerged Man of the Match, scored Nigeria’s third goal.

Eagles

By Olawale Alabi

(CrestNewsOnline.ng)

Three-times champions Nigeria held on with tenacity to defeat Tunisia 3-2 at Fès in Morocco on Saturday and book an early spot in Round of 16 of the ongoing 35^th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.

A fabulous performance saw the Eagles lead 3-0 after 70 minutes, with goals by Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.

But a tense finish was assured when the Carthage Eagles pulled two goals back with three minutes to go and began to believe.

Nigeria, three-time champions, left no one in doubt of their objective from the first blast of Malian referee Boubou Traore’s whistle, as they imposed themselves on the game.

They asked several questions of the Tunisian defence within the first quarter-hour, as Osimhen, Lookman and Akor Adams probed relentlessly.

After coming close on a number of occasions, Osimhen thought he had given Nigeria the lead in the 17^th minute, when he stabbed in as the Tunisian goalkeeper parried a shot by Adams.

His effort was however ruled offside.

The forward would however not be denied his first goal of this AFCON, as he leaped high to head the ball firmly into the net in the 44^th minute after a deep cross by Lookman.

Five minutes into the second half, Nigeria were 2-0 up, as Lookman’s teasing corner-kick was all team captain Ndidi needed to score his first goal for Nigeria at senior level, on his 73^rd cap.

The Eagles were relentless in chasing every ball, and it was no surprise when Lookman, who had assisted the first two goals, scored his second of the tournament.

He left the Tunisian defence in tatters and struck the ball into the net through the low upright, after a brilliant team move that saw Alex Iwobi and Osimhen exploit gaps in the Carthage Eagles’ rearguard.

Iwobi, on his 93^rd cap, was again magnificent with excellent ball distribution on the park.

Tunisia got one goal back off a free-kick from the right side which was headed into the net by Montassar Talbi.

In the 87^th minute, Ali Abdi made no mistake from the penalty kick spot after referee Traore consulted the VAR and decided a foul had been committed in Nigeria’s vital area.

The goal made for a tense finish, but Nigeria held on to pick maximum points and leap to the top of the group, with six points, ahead of Tuesday’s clash with the Cranes of Uganda.(www.crestnewsonline.ng)