Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Wednesday clinched third position in the African Nations Cup in Egypt.
The Super Eagles defeated the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia in the third place match played Wednesday night.
The only goal of the match was scored by Odion Ighalo in the first half.
Ighalo has now scored five goals in the 2019 AFCON and is leading the scorers’ chart.
An early goal by Odion Ighalo was enough to secure victory for Nigeria, who now extend their unbeaten run in the bronze matches of the continental tournament.
Ighalo scored in the 3rd minute from a defensive error by the Tunis, but was taken off before halftime due to an injury.
The China-based player’s 5 goals in the tournament could earn him the Golden Boot award.
The Wednesday’s victory in Cairo means the Eagles have never lost a third place match in the history of the tournament.
Having played in the playoff seven times – in 1978, 1978, 1992, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010 – Nigeria now have eight Nations Cup bronze titles.
Francis Uzoho and Samuel Kalu made their AFCON debuts in the game, with the goalkeeper making the starting lineup in place of Daniel Akpeyi while forward Kalu played as a late substitute for Samuel Chukwueze.
The Super Eagles got off to a flying start in hot sunny weather with Ighalo opening the scoring with only three minutes into the encounter after pouncing on a loose ball in the area. The striker stamped home the ball with his left foot for his fifth goal in the competition.
The Carthage Eagles had a chance to respond to Nigeria’s goal almost immediately after Ola Aina fouled Wahbi Khazri but the Saint-Etienne forward’s effort was blocked.
Nigeria almost got the second goal when Ighalo squared the ball into the area but Yassine Meriah was at hand to clear it to safety.
Tunisia went close to scoring the equaliser when Sassi shrugged off Wilfred Ndidi before launching a long-range shot but the effort went an inch of the target.
Carthage Eagles continued to push for a chance to level the game but were frustrated by the Super Eagles' water-tight defence.
Ndidi had an opportunity to increase Nigeria's lead after calmly collecting the ball in midfield but he blazed his effort wide of the target.
Tunisia made their first change in the 44th minute with Firas Chaouat replacing Taha Yassine Khenissi and moments before the half-time break, Ighalo was forced off after suffering an injury.
Sporting Charleroi striker Victor Osimhen replaced the Shanghai Greenland Shenhua forward in the 46th minute after the restart of the game.
The Carthage Eagles got close to equalising when Khazri played Chaouat through on goal but the CS Sfaxien man somehow managed to miss the target.
Giresse introduced Naim Sliti for Badri before replacing Hnid with Rami Bedoui as the North Africans continued to push for an equaliser.
Chukwueze had a chance to score the second goal for the Super Eagles but the forward's curling long-range effort was brilliantly finger-tipped by goalkeeper Cherifia for a corner-kick.
Tunisia looked brighter towards the closing stages of the game but the Super Eagles did enough to hold on to their lead and claim the victory.