Mali unrolls, Gambia strikes at the last second and Tunisia bites their fingers. The last day of CAN group F delivered its verdict on Thursday. In Douala, the Eagles of Mali ensured a quiet success against Mauritania (2-0) and finished top of the pool. They will face Equatorial Guinea in the round of 16. The Gambia won on the wire against Tunisia (1-0) and will find Guinea. The Tunisians, third, are qualified but will find themselves facing favorite Nigeria.
Clumsy Tunisia
Already third and assured of a place in the round of 16 before this last match, Tunisia knew their mission for the day. She had to win to overtake the Gambians and very quickly put her foot on the ball in the opposing camp on the lawn of Limbé. Except that she was also uninspired or very clumsy on the offensive level.
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Deprived of no less than 12 elements, including several regular starters like Wahbi Khazri, coach Mondher Kebaier had cobbled together the best possible starting lineup and it showed. The Carthage Eagles clearly lacked realism, like this penalty obtained just before the break but which Seifeddine Jaziri missed against Baboucarr Gayé (45th + 1). Frustrated and chambered by the Gambians, the Tunisians lost their nerve. Hamza Mathlouthi has been warned and will be suspended for the next game.
This will also be the case for substitute goalkeeper Farouk Ben Mustapha, sent off after a scuffle at halftime. Despite the entries of Youssef Msakni and Mohamed Drager (56th), the face of the match did not change and the Tunisians stumbled on the opposing block despite 70% possession and a total of 19 shots but only 3 on target. They were punished at the last minute of added time when Ablie Jallow took advantage of a center from Musa Barrow to deceive Bechir Ben Said and give victory to Gambia (1-0, 90th + 3).
Perfect job for Mali
The Eagles of Mali, they were able to be very effective against Mauritania. They opened the scoring in the 2nd minute through Lensois Massadio Haidara, with a crossover at the far post after a cross from the right (1-0, 2nd). Perfectly launched, Mohamed Magassouba’s players then clearly dominated the debates against the weakest opponent in the group.
The Mourabitounes tried to react but remained too tender and the Malians struck again at the very beginning of the second period. Ibrahima Koné converted a penalty obtained by Moussa Doumbia and allowed his side to make the break (2-0, 49th). Unlike Mauritania, which finished last in this group F without a point and without a goal scored, Mali could have largely shaken the nets. His two achievements of the day, however, allow him to finish first undefeated with 7 points like Gambia but above all a short better goal difference.
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