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
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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
Gordon scores four as Newcastle hit Qarabag for six
- Gordon stole the show by netting four times before half-time
- England forward Gordon has netted 14 times this season, including 10 in the Champions League
BAKU: Anthony Gordon starred with a brilliant four-goal haul as Newcastle crushed Qarabag 6-1 in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie on Wednesday.
Gordon stole the show by netting four times before half-time at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium.
Malick Thiaw was also on target for Newcastle before the interval and Jacob Murphy netted after the break to complete the demolition.
Elvin Jafarguliyev’s second-half reply was little consolation for Azerbaijani underdogs Qarabag, who paid the price for wretched defending in a miserable performance.
England forward Gordon has netted 14 times this season, including 10 in the Champions League, taking him past Alan Shearer as Newcastle’s highest scorer in a single campaign in Europe’s elite club competition.
Gordon’s memorable night on the shores of the Caspian Sea ensured the second leg at St. James’ Park on February 24 should be a mere formality.
Barring a miracle comeback from Qarabag, Eddie Howe’s side will face Barcelona or Chelsea in the last 16.
Having ended Newcastle’s 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy by winning the League Cup last season, Howe set his sights on more history this week, admitting it would “mean everything” to steer them into the Champions League last 16 for the first time.
Howe’s cherished target is now within touching distance.
Booed off less than two weeks ago after a defeat against Brentford, Newcastle made the 2,529-mile trip to Baku revitalized by successive away victories against Tottenham in the Premier League and Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
It was the longest journey any English team had ever made for a Champions League knockout game, but there was no sign of fatigue as Newcastle ripped Qarabag to shreds.
Gordon started as Newcastle’s central striker as Howe again deployed misfiring German forward Nick Woltemade in a deeper role.
Gordon runs riot
Howe’s decision to make Gordon the focal point of his attack paid off after just three minutes.
Dan Burn advanced from defense and played a perfect pass toward Gordon, who timed his run to beat the Qarabag offside trap before planting a clinical finish into the far corner from 12 yards.
Qarabag beat Benfica, Copenhagen and Eintracht Frankfurt and drew with Chelsea in the group stage.
Yet it was their 6-0 thrashing at Liverpool in the last game of the phase that proved more relevant as Newcastle doubled their advantage in the eighth minute.
Kieran Trippier’s pin-point cross picked out Thiaw and he guided a composed header past Mateusz Kochalski from close range.
Newcastle were carving open the creaky Qarabag defense at will and their barrage brought a third goal in the 32nd minute.
Matheus Silva blocked Harvey Barnes’ shot with his arm as he slid along the turf and Gordon stroked in the resulting penalty.
Gordon bagged his third goal in predatory style just 60 seconds later, seizing on Kevin Medina’s slip and rounding Kochalski to slot into the empty net.
It was Gordon’s first professional hat-trick, making him only the third Newcastle player to score a Champions League treble after Shearer and Faustino Asprilla.
Gordon’s 33-minute haul was also the fastest Champions League hat-trick by an English player.
The 24-year-old wasn’t finished yet and his break into the area ended with Kochalski fouling him, conceding a penalty that Gordon converted with ease.
Jafarguliyev got one back in the 54th minute with a low drive that was initially disallowed for offside before VAR allowed the goal to stand.
Murphy notched his first goal in the Champions League in the 72nd minute, whipping a deflected strike past Kochalski to put the seal on Newcastle’s perfect evening.
