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Kenneth Omeruo (Bottom) of Nigeria vies with Ferjani Sassi of Tunisia during the third place final at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo, Egypt, July 17, 2019. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

CAIRO, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria beat Tunisia 1-0 here on Wednesday evening with an early goal to secure the third place in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the eighth time in their history.

Striker Odion Ighalo, who plays for China's Shanghai Shenhua, scored the winner for the Super Eagles only three minutes into the playoff.

Nigerian Jamilu Collins left a Tunisian defender on the floor and crossed into the box and Tunisia goalkeeper Moez Ben Cherifia punched the ball of his defender to find Ighalo who tapped it into the empty net.

In the 64th minute, Nigeria midfielder Samuel Chukwueze almost scored a brilliant goal by a strike from 25 yards. But Ben Cherifia tipped it round the post. It was a good shot and good goalkeeping too!

The rest of the game witnessed no real threats on both sides.

Nigeria defender William Troost-Ekong was named the Man of the Match.

Three-time AFCON champions Nigeria were the AFCON runners-up for four times in their history, the latest was in 2000.

As for the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia, they won the AFCON title once in 2004, were the runners-up twice in 1965 and 1996 and secured the third place once in 1962.

The 2019 AFCON final will be played on Friday between Algeria and Senegal.