Yaounde: Tunisia beat strong Nigeria and Burkina Faso beat Gabon in a penalty shootout to advance to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Tunisia won the match at the Romde Adjia Stadium thanks to a goal from Youssef Mascani, who is also the captain. Masoukani scored the only goal of the game in the 47th minute. In the 12th minute of the match, Nigeria were exhausted when Joya Aribo’s kick went out by a difference of inches. Bilel Ifa missed a corner kick. Eight minutes later, Ewobi received his first yellow card for a foul on Yusuf Mascani. In the 66th minute, Ewobi hit Mascotani once more and was sent off.
Augustine Iguvion’s disciples failed to break through the Tunisian defense in the first half. Shortly following the start of the second half, a goal fell into the Nigerian net. Mascani Ola Ania and Wilfred NDD cleverly got the ball in front of the penalty box. Mascani’s low-key midfielder also overtook goalkeeper Maduka Okoya.
Alex Ewobi and Peter Olayinka put Nigeria ahead, but did not score. Substitute Naim Slitty was on the verge of doubling Tunisia’s lead in the 75th minute. Naim’s shot was blocked by Maduka Okoya. Later, Nigerian player Omar Sadiq overtook Tunisian goalkeeper Bechir Ben Sayed but the shot went wide. This is Tunisia’s second victory over Nigeria. Their first victory was in the semi-finals of the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations. Tunisia will face Burkina Faso in the quarterfinals. The shootout was inevitable as the score was tied at 1-1 in overtime and extra time once morest Gabon. Guerrero’s own goal in injury time put Burkina ahead. Bertrand Troy put them ahead in the 28th minute with a goal. Burkina Faso won the shootout 7-6.
