Ahmed Akaichi struck 20 minutes from time to rescue a point for Tunisia against Nigeria in a well-fought Group C game at the 2016 African Nations Championship (Chan) on Friday which finished 1-1.
The Tunisians bossed the first half and were unlucky not to be in front at the interval after enjoying the better of the play and having a goal controversially chalked off.
Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh opted to start Abia Warriors striker, Chisom Chikatara who came off the bench to score a hattrick in Nigeria’s opening game of the competition against Niger.
Nigeria had the first shot on target just after 11 minutes when Ifeanyi Matthew’s shot was deflected towards his own goal by Karim Aouadhi but Tunisian goalkeeper, Rami Jarimi’s reflex stop literally saved the Eagles of Carthage from conceding the opening goal.
Chikatara reacted slowly when he was played through by Mohammed Usman moments later but the chance was gone in a flash as he was crowded out by the Tunisian rear guard.
The Tunisians responded gamely with livewire, Ahmed Akaichi breaking free down the right hand channel in the 14th minute but organized Nigerian defending saw the opportunity end in futility.
Seconds later, Akaichi came even closer as he showed good footwork before striking hard and low from inside the box before being denied by a top class save by Nigeria goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa.
Ezenwa again came to Nigeria’s rescue in the 27th minute as he saved well off a long range strike by Akaichi after Nigeria lost the ball carelessly just in front of their penalty area.
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A minute later, the North Africans missed yet another glorious opportunity to take the lead after Abdelkader Oueslati badly fluffed his lines when left unmarked in the Nigeria box following an inviting cross from the right.
The Tunisians had the ball in the back of the Nigeria net on the stroke of half time after putting through a scintillating move.
Akaichi headed home a delightful cross from the left but the goal was controversially disallowed by referee, Joshua Bondo after the assistant referee on the far side ruled that the ball had gone out of play before Ali Maâloul’s delivery.
Nigeria looked a rejuvenated side after the break and duly took the lead in the 52nd minute through pin up boy, Chikatara.
The fearsome forward latched onto a precise Osas Okoro and fired home unerringly past the flailing Jeridi.
It was his fourth goal of the tournament and underlined his status as the Nigeria’s main attacking weapon.
Matthew almost doubled Nigeria’s lead in a matter of second but he wastefully dragged his effort wide.
The Eagles of Carthage remained patient and duly got their reward as they got back on level terms in the 70th minute when an unmarked Akaichi fired home from close range following a Maâloul flick after Mohammed Moncer crossed from the right.
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| Ahmed Akaichi BBC Image |
Akaichi almost completed his brace in the 78th minute but watched in frustration as his volley was cleared off the line by Kalu Orji after Mathlouthi crossed from the right .
The Eagles of Carthage finished the stronger team but the Super Eagles held on for a hard-fought point and will finish as group C winners if they avoid defeat in their final preliminary game against Guinea on January 26 at the Umuganda Stadium, Gisenyi.
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