Sports
CHAN: Nigeria, Tunisia share points
Nifemi Daniel
Nigeria Super Eagles were forced to a 1-1 draw by Tunisia in their second Group C game of the African Nations Championship in Kigali, Rwanda on Friday.
Basking on the euphoria of their 4-1 win over Niger in the first game, the Eagles opened score through golden boy, Chisom Chikatara in the early stage of the second half before Ahmed Akaichi leveled midway to earn Tunisia a vital point.
Tunisia dominated the first half but failed to find the back of the net whilst Nigeria sat back with occasional moves upfront.
Read also: CHAN: Eagles were superior, Niger coach confesses
Akaichi, who gave the Nigeria backline some scary moments, was denied by goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa who pulled a superb save of his goal bound shot at the edge of the penalty area on 14 minutes.
Ezenwa was again to his side’s rescue with yet another save on 26 minutes collecting Mohamed Ali Moncer’s shot with ease.
Just before the break, Akaichi headed in from an Ali Maaloul cross from the left but the goal was disallowed as the ball was adjudged to have gone out before Maaloul delivered his cross.
Tunisia resumed on the same tempo but it was the Super Eagles who broke the deadlock on 52 minutes through dangerman Chikatara, who was put through by Osas Okoro. The Abia Warriors forward fired past a hapless Tunisia goalie Rami Jeridi for his fourth goal of the tournament.
The lead will last for only 17 minutes before Akaichi restored parity finishing off a three-man move that involved Moncer and substitute Hichem Essifi. Moncer crossed to Essifi, whose header found Akaichi, who shot past Ezenwa for a deserving equalizer.
The remainder of the game was a balanced affair with Tunisia coming close a couple of time, but the winner remained elusive.
The Super Eagles will battle Guinea in the last group match on Tuesday January 26 by 3pm.
Nigeria stays atop of the group with four points whilst Tunisia has two points from two games.
Nigeria’s Osas Okoro was voted the Man of the Match.
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