The Super Eagles tonight crashed out of the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon after they were outfoxed by Tunisia 1-0 in a Round of 16 tie in Garoua.
Youssef Mskani was the match winner when in the 47th minute he was allowed enough space for his blaster from outside the box to beat a diving goalkeeper Maduka Okoye.
The Eagles woes were compounded in the 65th minute, when substitute Alex Iwobi was sent off for dangerous play.
The more tactically shrewd Carthage Eagles thus avenged their 1-0 loss to Nigeria for third place at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.
🇹🇳 The last time #TeamTunisia managed to get past Nigeria in the #TotalEnergiesAFCON knockouts they went on to win the title!
— #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 🏆 (@CAF_Online) January 23, 2022
Will it happen again? ⚡#TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #AFCON2021 | @FTF_OFFICIELLE pic.twitter.com/nB97p6s7dY
It was a shock defeat for Nigeria considering the fact that Tunisia barely qualified for the knockout rounds of the competition after they lost their two group games and were depleted by Coronavirus, which affected their head coach and as many as seven players.
They will now take on Burkina Faso in the quarterfinal in Garoua on Saturday after the Stallions outscored Gabon on penalties when scores stood at 1-1 after extra-time in Limbe.
The first half tonight in Garoua was very cagey with very few chances created by both Nigeria and Tunisia.
Joe Aribo saw his effort from inside the box crash against the side netting after 12 minutes as Nigeria enjoyed more of the possession, while the North Africans were content to stay compact back in their defence.
Mskani’s goal moments after the restart caused an urgency in the Eagles play before they suffered another body blow after Iwobi was sent off for a dangerous tackle on 65 minutes.
Nigeria danger man Moses Simon was predictable and he was shut out by his Tunisian markers.
The ineffective Samuel Chukwueze threatened the Tunisian goal in the 72nd minute, but his effort missed target not by much.
Goalkeeper Okoye was then forced to pull off a big save off Sliti three minutes later, before substitute striker Sadiq Umar came close to drawing Nigeria level twice.
The UD Almeria striker first threatened the Tunisian goal in the 78th minute and then in stoppage time his shot from inside the box narrowly missed target with the goalkeeper well beaten.
Maduka Okoye – Zaidu Sanusi, Ola Aina, William Ekong (Captain), Kenneth Omeruo – Wilfred Ndidi, Joe Aribo (Ahmed Musa 88), Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze (Sadiq Umar 74) – Kelechi Iheanacho (Alex Iwobi 59), Taiwo Awoniyi (Peter Olayinka 59)
