An own goal, a change of goalkeeper before the penalty shootout and a substitute who becomes a hero: facing Ghana, Tunisia went through all the emotions (1-1, 5-4 tab) to offer a quarter against Madagascar during the African Cup of Nations.
A slow qualification with three draws in pools and two small goals scored: with the exception of Wahbi Khazri, Tunisia had been unconvincing in pools.
But it was without their technical leader that the Carthage Eagles started the match. Decreased and already spared in training, the AS Saint-Etienne player started on the bench, as did Naïm Sliti who paid for the choices of coach Alain Giresse.
The Ghanaians were the first dangerous with a powerful head from Kasim Adams on the post and in continuity of the action, a strike from André Ayew boxed by Mouez Hassen (16 ').
Just before the break, the Black Stars thought they opened the scoring after a very good action: Thomas Partey, for Jordan Ayew who serves his brother André, whose heel-back ends up in the back of the net. But the goal is denied due to a hand from Partey, according to the referee. If the midfielder of Atlético Madrid actually touched the ball of the chin, there was anyway offside at the start of the action (42 ').
As expected, the entry at the 68th minute of Khazri gives a new impetus to the Eagles . It is also at the start of the action which brings the opening of the score of Taha Khenissi (73 '1-0).
Tunisia then holds its first victory in this CAN and its place in quarters as in 2015 and 2017. But on a free kick in additional time, Rami Bedoui, pressed by Asamoah Gyan, lobes his own goalkeeper Mouez Hassen , also not flawless (1-1 92 '). The goalkeeper of Nice, already the author of a failed outing which had cost a goal against Angola.
Extension, everything has to be done again for Khazri's teammates. The latter works on it in the 99th minute, on a floating shot, but Ofori is on the trajectory. Then, it is Jordan Ayew who misses the opportunity to give the advantage to his family by unscrewing a shot at the 115th.
You have to go through the shots on goal, for the third time in these eighths. A session without Mouez Hassen, asked to give up his place to Farouk Ben Mustapha. A change little appreciated by the goalkeeper of Nice, angry at his exit. And a choice reminiscent of the Netherlands at the 2014 World Cup against Costa Rica.
Choice paying there too since it is Ben Mustapha who stops the strike, certainly not very supported by Caleb Ekuban, while on the Tunisian side everyone succeeded his shot.
The Eagles have still not won but are racing in quarters against the Zebus .