KORHOGO, Ivory Coast: Tunisia, ranked third in Africa, meekly bowed out of the Cup of Nations after drawing 0-0 with South Africa in a poor final round Group E match in Korhogo on Wednesday.
The North Africans had a late chance to snatch victory and survive, but substitute Haythem Jouini headed a cross well over the crossbar.
Tunisia became the second top 10-ranked nation after Algeria to be eliminated after the opening round.
Mali won Group E after a 0-0 draw with Namibia, and both qualified for the knockout stage along with second-placed South Africa.
Tunisia dropped veteran captain and forward Youssef Msakni after he made little impact in a loss to Namibia and draw with Mali. Defender Yassine Meriah took over as skipper.
After a four-goal hammering of Namibia, South Africa retained the same starting line-up, which included eight players from Mamelodi Sundowns, the dominant domestic club.
The early stages were cagey and scrappy in the 36 degrees Celsius (97 Fahrenheit) heat of northern Ivory Coast, with Tunisia having more possession, but not using it effectively.
Tunisia squandered three half-chances midway through the half as Ellyes Skhiri blazed over, Anis Ben Slimane overhit a free-kick and Elias Achouri headed wide.
A strong run by Percy Tau for South Africa ended with Evidence Makgopa nodding wide and a speculative long-range shot from Thapelo Morena dipped just over the crossbar.
By the end of a disappointing half, Tunisia had five goal attempts, but not one on target in a match watched by Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe.
The start of the second half was delayed by several minutes so that the kick-off coincided with the other Group E match between Mali and Namibia in the southwestern coastal city of San Pedro.
As the hour mark approached, Qatar-based Msakni replaced Ben Slimane and won his 100th cap for the Carthage Eagles.
This month, Msakni became the fourth player after Cameroonian Rigobert Song, Egyptian Ahmed Hassan and Ghanaian Andre ‘Dede’ Ayew to feature in eight Cup of Nations tournaments.
Tunisia eliminated from AFCON after draw with South Africa
https://arab.news/wc63z
Tunisia eliminated from AFCON after draw with South Africa
- Tunisia became the second top 10-ranked nation after Algeria to be eliminated after the opening round
- Mali won Group E after a 0-0 draw with Namibia, and both qualified for the knockout stage along with second-placed South Africa
Newcastle oust 10-man Villa from FA Cup, Man City beat Beckham’s Salford
- Both Villa and Newcastle have failed to win the competition since the 1950s
LONDON: Newcastle beat 10-man Aston Villa 3-1 thanks to a double from Sandro Tonali to reach the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday as Marc Guehi scored his first goal for Manchester City in a 2-0 victory over fourth-tier Salford.
Both Villa and Newcastle have failed to win the competition since the 1950s and another opportunity for Unai Emery’s men to end a 30-year wait for silverware vanished after a first half red card for goalkeeper Marco Bizot.
Tammy Abraham had fired the home side in front with his first goal since returning to Villa last month.
But the game swung in the Magpies’ favor when Bizot charged off his line to wipe out Jacob Murphy and deny a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Newcastle’s fightback saved the officials from an embarrassing moment becoming more controversial when Lucas Digne’s handball, that was clearly inside the box, was given as a free-kick instead of a penalty.
With VAR not in operation at this stage of the competition, the decision could not be reviewed.
But Newcastle levelled from the resulting free-kick anyway as Tonali’s strike deflected past the helpless Emi Martinez.
Tonali has been linked with a move to Arsenal come the end of the season and the Italian showed why he is in-demand with a blistering strike from outside the box to turn the tie around.
Nick Woltemade then netted his first goal in 15 games to take Newcastle, who last lifted the trophy in 1955, into the last 16.
Owned by Manchester United legends David Beckham and Gary Neville, Salford were playing in the fourth round for the first time in their history.
The League Two side were humbled 8-0 when they faced City in the third round last season, but pushed Pep Guardiola’s men far closer on Saturday.
“They defended really well, so tight and we didn’t attack the spaces the way we should. The game was flat until we scored the second goal,” Guardiola said.
City took an early lead through Alfie Dorrington’s own goal, but there were only nine minutes left when England defender Guehi delivered the decisive blow with his maiden goal since signing from Crystal Palace in January.
- Burnley gamble backfires -
Third-tier Mansfield produced the upset of the day by winning 2-1 at Premier League Burnley to reach the fifth round for the first time since 1975.
Burnley went into the game bolstered by their first league win since October over Crystal Palace in midweek, but boss Scott Parker made nine changes and the gamble backfired.
Burnley took the lead through Josh Laurent’s 21st-minute goal, but Nigel Clough’s team, who sit in mid-table in League One, staged an impressive fightback in the second half.
Rhys Oates headed in the equalizer in the 53rd minute and Louis Reed capped a fine individual performance with a brilliant free-kick 10 minutes from full-time.
Ten-man West Ham edged through as the in-form Crysencio Summerville clinched a 1-0 win at League One Burton after extra-time.
Freddie Potts was sent off soon after Summerville’s strike in the first period of extra-time, but the Premier League strugglers held on to survive a gruelling fourth round clash.
After eliminating Manchester United in round three, Brighton are aiming to deliver another upset when they visit Liverpool later at Anfield.
