Early Ighalo goal secures CAN 2019 bronze for Super Eagles
A drab game in Cairo reinforced the claim that the 3rd-4th place play-offs are games that nobody wants.
An early tap in from tournament top scorer Odion Ighalo was one of the few bright moments in a game that failed to catch fire.
Nigeria were worthy winners on a night where the Super Eagles played with little inhibition with Tunisia offering little in a placid evening for Nigerian keeper Francis Uzoho.
Nigeria claim bronze in Cairo as thoughts in Egypt turn to Friday's showpiece final where Algeria and Senegal bring the curtain down on CAN 2019.
A performance that the Carthage Eagles will want to forget with a disappointing evening from Alain Giresse's side.
The early goal from Odion Ighalo enough for the Super Eagles to claim bronze in a game that was far, far from a classic.
That's it, the whistle sound in Cairo and Nigeria are third at CAN 2019
...poor strike from the Stoke player who fires oiver
Moses Simon looking busy too since his introduction.Last minute of added time and the Levante man wins a dangerous free for the side. Etebo to take...
Three Nigeria players over the ball. The No. 17 appears to be the man to strike....The Everton strker once again forces the keeper into action as he parrys the ball. Decent strike from the sub.
Bedoui handles on the edge of the box. Danger here with Kalu poised.
Kalu with a long range free kick which forces Ben Cherifia to save spectacuraly
5' of time to be added
Chukwueze off with Kalu his replacement
Corner for Tunisia. Can the Carthage Eagles muster a late rally ?
Into the final five we go...
We can only hope and assume that Friday's final between Algeria and Senegal will be a more positive encounter. Tonight's game not exactly a great selling point for the already unpopular 3rd/4th place play-off.
Both Uzoho and Chaouat are down after a collision. The Omonia keeper seems okay to continue.
Osimhen is alone and with no support opts to fire on goal as Ben Cherifia gets a touch on the ball for a corner.
Khazri does well getting the ball to the by-line but fails to find a man in a red shirt.
It's been far from a classic at the Al Salam Stadium it has to be said ...
Draeger looks to cross the ball but hits the ball over the ball and wide.
Chaalali fires but watches as he shot drifts agonisingly wide. Tunisa realise time is running out in Cairo and are the team with the initiative at present
Levante's Simon on and replaces Musa
15' left in Cairo
Tunisia stepping up a little now with intensity as Nigeria sit deeper and invite pressure from the men in red.
Khazri flagged for offside in the box but on repeat viewing a close call. Tunisia still yet to carve out an opening in this half.
Tunisia's distribution tonight has been very, very ....very poor.
Bedoui come on for the injured Hnid
Hnid getting attention as Tunisia seem to want to make another change
Osimhen caught offside as Nigeria look to double their lead
Osimhen looks to have electric pace
Chukwueze strikes and the Tunisian stopper does well to tip the ball around the post. fine effort from the Villarreal striker with a save to match.
Just 1 shot a piece on target. A quiet night so far for both goalkeepers but it's still the Super Eagles with the all important goal.
Card for Chaalali
Possession on the hour mark:
- 0
- 15
- 30
- 45
- 60
- 75
- 90
- 19%80%
- 39%60%
- 51%48%
- 71%28%
- 68%31%
- 45%54%
- 63%36%
- 43%56%
- 49%51%
- 67%32%
- 54%45%
Ighalo on track to be CAN 2019 top scorer
Tunisia change: Badri off - Sliti on
A great season with Villarreal but recent performances from Chukwueze have been hot & cold in the Nigeria shirt.
Once again the Saint Etienne player takes a free kick and once again it's hit with venom against the nigeria wall.
Chaalali lofts the ball into the box with absolutely no.one in a red shirt there. An action that pretty much sums the quality of play from the Carthage Eagles tonight. Khazri is excellent and then a great deal of meodocrity.
Nigeria really suffocating Tunisia and refusing to let the pass the ball around. Fine pressing from the Super Eagles.
Chaouat through on goal and fires into the side netting. Disappointing finish from the Sfaxien striker.
Osimhen has replaced the injured Ighalo
We're back underway in Cairo.
Half time in Cairo. Game dropped off in the final 10' but Nigeria good value for their 1-0 lead.
A hug from Rhor and not good for the player currently plying his trade in China
The striker will need to be swapped and gestures towards the Nigeria bench.
Ighalo pulls up and seems to have pulled a hamstring
The change does go ahead now - Khenissi off with Chaouat his replacement
Change for Tunisia: Khenissi off (injury) ...no hold that ... the strker is trying to continue
Almost 40' played and Uzoho in the nigeria goal yet to be called into action.
Chukwueze on the ball but it's been a discreet half from the Villarreal man in Cairo tonight.
Tunisia have clawed back into the game possession-wise but Nigeria still ahead in Cairo. 10' of the half remaining.
- 0
- 15
- 30
- 45
- 60
- 75
- 90
- 19%80%
- 39%60%
- 51%48%
- 71%28%
- 68%31%
- 45%54%
Ighalo gets annoyed with match official as the man in blue obstructs the Nigerian attacker.
Nigeria well in control now, launching wave after wave of attack. Etebo to take a dangerous free kick... Disapointing delivery from the Stoke City player with the ball straight at the tunisian keeper.
Good pressure from Nigeria with Iwobi and Musa linking up well. The final delivery into the box though was easily dealt with by the men in red.
Why didn't Nigeria play like this on Sunday?
Once again, every credit to the players for the fast and furious pace of the game so far, this despite the 34C!
Khazri as always to take... Five in the Nigeria wall. Fine strike but takes a deflection off the nigeri wall.
Ndidi carded for a push on Badri
Tunisia now looking dangerous with Badri especially causing problems for the Nigeria rear gauard.
Possession after 15'
- 0
- 15
- 30
- 45
- 60
- 75
- 90
- 19%80%
- 39%60%
Great play from Zamalek's Sassi almost pulling Tunisia level with a fine right foot effort which goes inches wide.
Nigeria playing like a team with no inhibitions, a different side from the nervous Super Eagles we saw in the semi-.final against Algeria on Sunday. It can't be just the shirt !
Ighalo goes close again but Ben Cherifia palms away his left footed effort.
Tunisia clawing their way back into the action with niggly fouls now interupting the flow of the action.
Tunisia attack with Khenissi's effoty deflected for a corner.
The early goal has settled any Nigeria nerves with the Super Eagles enjoying the early possession at the Al Salam stadium
Dangerous free kick for Tunisia with Wahbi Khazri to take... The striker goes for goal but sees his strike go straight into the Nigeria wall.
What a mix up between Meriah and keeper Ben Cherifia as the ball bounces of both players and falls kindly for the Nigeria striker to stab home into an empty net.
As is the case at this CAN 2019, the few fans that are in the ground are doing their best to generate atmosphere with trumpets and drums sounding.
We're underway in Cairo. The Super Eagles get the action underway.
Pre-match pleasantries over, time for the action... It's Tunisia-Nigeria for the broinze at CAN 2019
A year on and we're still lovin the Nigeria home shirt !
Tonight's match official is local man Gehad Grisha.
National anthems of both nations play out on the Al Salaam stadium PA system
A spartan crowd as anticipated at the home of Egyptian Premier League side El Entag El Harby.
The teams are in the tunnel with smiles all round between the German Gernot Rohr manager of Nigeria and Giresse from Tunisia.
Despite being an unpopular game for many, there is both a medal and pride at stake in Cairo tonight with both teams wanting to head home having made the podium at AFCON 2019.
Nihgeria's Ighalo has been involved in five goals in the 2019 AFCON (four goals, one assist), more than any other player. The striker has been involved in 63 per cent of Nigeria's goals in this edition (five of eight).
Tunisia have won only one of their three third-place games in the AFCON (D1 L1). It was in 1962 against Uganda (3-0).
The Super Eagles will be in their 'lucky' home kit that caused such a stir globally last year upon its presentation.
Tunisia tonight will wear their all red strip.
Once again, players of both teams set to play in stifling conditions with a current temnperatiure in Cairo of 34C.
Nigeria have never lost against Tunisia in four encounters in the AFCON (W2 D2). They will face each other for a third-place game in the competition for the second time after 1978 (Nigeria won 2-0).
Tunisia's semi-final was similarly close, as they were defeated 1-0 by Senegal thanks to a Dylan Bronn own goal in extra time. Most of the Carthage Eagles' matches in the tournament have been tight, with their 3-0 quarter-final win over minnows Madagascar the only game they have emerged victorious from in 90 minutes.
Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr was not disheartened by his team's semi-final defeat, convinced the Super Eagles pushed Algeria all the way as they prepare to tussle with Tunisia in the Africa Cup of Nations third-place play-off.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Tunisia vs Nigeria, the 3rd-4th place play-off game in AFCON 2019. Kick-off is at 2100 CEST.