The Super Eagles of Nigeria were sent packing by Tunisia in a 1-0 thriller match in the AFCON 2021 tournament held in Cameroon.

The Nigeria team started as favorites to reach the quarter-finals having won all three group matches in the northwestern city, with record seven-time champions Egypt among their victims.

Veteran Youssef Msakni scored to give previously unimpressive Tunisia a shock 1-0 triumph over 10-man Nigeria in Garoua on Sunday in an Africa Cup of Nations last-16 match.

Nigeria had a good chance to level at the start of added time when substitute Umar Sadiq got behind the defence and fired across goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said only to see his shot trickle wide of the far post.

The North Africans now face Burkina Faso, who eliminated Gabon after a penalty shootout, in the quarter-finals of the flagship African tournament next Saturday.

Msakni struck on 47 minutes and Nigerian hopes of leveling were dealt a major blow midway through the second half when Alex Iwobi was red-carded.

Tunisia, making a record 15th consecutive Cup of Nations appearance from 1994, fell to Mali and minnows Gambia in the first round and squeezed into the knockout phase among the four best third-placed teams.

While Nigeria was able to choose 12 substitutes, Tunisia could manage only eight due to a coronavirus outbreak in the camp.