Nigeria on Wednesday beat Tunisia 1-0 in the third-place game at the Africa Cup of Nations with an early goal by Odion Ighalo, the tournament’s leading scorer.
Ighalo scored from close range in the third minute when he took advantage of a mix-up in the Tunisian defense at al-Salam Stadium to net his fifth goal in Egypt.
Ighalo was substituted before halftime and left the field holding his left leg, an unexpected end to a tournament where he is on course to finish as top scorer.
There are three players who could catch him in the final: Algeria pair Riyad Mahrez and Adam Ounas, and Senegal’s Sadio Mane, all of whom have three goals.
Algeria and Senegal meet today at Cairo International Stadium, where Algeria can claim a second title and first since 1990, and Senegal can win the Africa Cup for the first time.
Ighalo poked home in the opening minutes to take advantage of the confusion in the Tunisian defense.
Tunisia goalkeeper Moez ben Cherifia dived to cut out a cross from Jamilu Collins on the left.
The ball came off the ’keeper’s hand, rebounded off defender Yassine Meriah, back onto Ben Cherifia and sat in front of goal for Ighalo to score easily.
Tunisia’s best chance came right after halftime, when substitute Firas Chaouat was played in by Wahbi Khazri and sliced his shot wide with only the goalkeeper in front of him.
Nigeria also went close in the second half, when Samuel Chukwueze whipped a left-foot shot toward the top corner and Ben Cherifia dived to claw it away.
In injury time, Nigeria substitute Samuel Kalu had two free-kicks saved by Ben Cherifia. The first was tipped over and the second scrambled away low down.
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