Tunisia and Nigeria played to an entertaining 1-1 draw in a group “C” encounter of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) played on Friday 22 at the Stade Regional Nyamirambo.

The result means Nigeria on four points, will have to battle for at least a point against Guinea on Tuesday 26 to be sure of progressing to the round of eight.

The Super Eagles were the more dominant in the first half in terms of ball possession especially in the midfield with Aggreh Prince and man of the match Okoro Moses linking up Chisom Chikatara in attack. On the other end Ahmed Akiachi was always a lingering threat.

Hat trick hero Chikatara who starred in Nigeria’s 4-1 demolition of Niger on Monday was a marked man, but still he posed a considerable threat to the Carthage Eagles’ rear guard – his 12th minute furious shot inside the penalty box was almost deflected in for an own goal, but the Tunisian keeper Rami Jeridi was well alert to clear.

The highlight of the half came in the 44th minute when Ahmed Akiachi headed in what was to be the opener for the Henryk Kadperczak’s men but the cross from skipper Ali Maaloul on the left was ruled to have been taken from outside the goal line, hence the goal denied despite protests from the North Africans – the match proceeded to the breather with no goals recorded.

Nigeria picked from where they left, dictating the pace of the game as was in the first stanza, and in the 51st minute, the golden boy Chikatara netted his fourth goal of the tournament, from Okoro Moses sleek pass.

Eighteen minutes later Ahmed Akaichi responded for Tunisia grabbing his third goal of the tournament, driving in from close range Mathlouthi Hamza’s header from Mohamed Monser cross from the left.

Akaichi was at it again minutes later, and he should have put the Tunisians ahead but his right foot tap rolled in front of goal, and was cleared out for a wasted corner.

The proceedings looked to favor the North Africans in the advanced stages of the tie despite Coach Sunday Oliseh making substitutions – they however failed to find the winner as the match ended one all.

Tunisia face Niger in their final group match on January 26.

@bonfaceosano