Nigeria’s Super Eagles, on Wednesday night at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo, defeated Tunisia to win their record eighth bronze medal of the African Cup of Nations.
Super Eagles forward Odion Ighalo tapped in the only goal in the second minute of the third-place match to secure a win for the three-time African champion.
Ighalo with the goal remains the leading goal scorer of the 2019 AFCON with a total of five goals in seven games.
He is being followed by Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez and Adam Ounas, as well as DR Congo’s Cedric Bakambu and Sadio Mane of Senegal with three goals each.
He, however, looks forward to winning the golden boot of the tournament, should Mane, Marez, and Ounas fail to score two goals on Friday.
Few minutes after Ighalo’s goal, Nigeria’s Kenneth Omeruo made a wonderful interception to cut out Taha Khenissi’s shot from the right after the Tunisian was sent through by a great curl from skipper Wahbi Khazri.
While the game was ongoing, the Super Eagles played too deep in their own half, paving the way for midfielders Sassi and Joris Skhiri take charge of the match.
After the restart, the North African side took charge again and was close to a goal just two minutes in.
Khazri sent substitute Firas Chaouat through, but the striker missed a one-on-one opportunity with goalkeeper Francis Uzoho as his shot hit the side of the net.
Nigeria also had a chance to extend their lead when Chukwueze picked the ball at the edge of the box but his effort was diverted behind for a corner by Ben Chirifia.
Tunisia fought hard for an equaliser in the keenly watched match but Nigeria defended the lone goal to return with at least a medal.
Nigeria lost to the Desert Foxes of Algeria 2-1 while Senega beat the Tunisian side 1-0 In the semi-final matches played on Sunday.
Algeria and Senegal will battle each other in another epic final on Friday at the Cairo International Stadium.
