Tunisia leaves the African Cup of Nations at the end of a scenario as frustrating as it is painful. The Carthage Eagles were eliminated by Mali on penalties, after a draw (1-1) at the end of regulation time and overtime.
Tunisia, however, thought it would hold on to its qualification. Serious, disciplined and long-time master of the game, she ended up being rewarded in the 88th minute. Entering the game, Feras Chaouat appeared at the far post to head a perfect cross from Elias Saad and explode the Tunisian bench.
A penalty in added time that swings the match
But fate decided otherwise. In added time, a hand from Yassine Meriah in the area offered Mali a final opportunity. Lassine Sinayoko converted the penalty in the 90th +7, restarting a match that seemed won.
Overtime, closed and tense, did not allow Tunisia to regain the advantage, despite a numerical superiority acquired in the 26th minute after the expulsion of Woyo Coulibaly for a dangerous foul on Hannibal Mejbri. An advantage that the Tunisians have never really been able to exploit.
On penalties, Mali was more lucid. Tunisia, for its part, let slip a qualification which held out its arms to it.
The first act was encouraging, with territorial domination and good control of the pace, even if there were no clear opportunities. The premature exit of Dylan Bronn, who suffered a muscle injury in the 12th minute, also disrupted the defensive balance.
Mali will face Senegal, winner of Sudan (3-1), in the quarter-final. For Tunisia, this elimination leaves a feeling of unfinished business, that of a match generally controlled, but lost in the very last minutes.
