In a circle on the ground, the Tunisians dance and shout their joy. They have just achieved a major feat, given their preparation conditions by winning against Nigeria, until then, irresistible and invincible. In Tunis, La Marsa, Hammamet or Sousse, in a jubilant country, the horns sounded. Nobody believed it after the avalanche of hard blows that have hit the Eagles of Carthage since the start of this CAN.
With 10 absentees (8 cases of Covid, 2 suspended), a bench with only six players, some of whom had not trained in recent days, fatigue after a match Thursday against Gambia (1-0 defeat) and the 1300 km travel to join Garoua, Tunisia, qualified by the small door (a single victory and among the best 3rd) indeed accumulated handicaps.
Even coach Mondher Kebaier, also positive for Covid, had been forced to remain in solitary confinement in his hotel room, in contact by telephone with members of his staff. The only good news, the negative tests of Wahbi Khazri, Dylan Broon and Issam Jebali in the morning. The three players were therefore able to travel during the day and join the group to sit on the bench. Khazri and Jebali were able to enter in the final five minutes to save the score.
In the group stage, Nigeria, the only team to have obtained three victories, impressed with its power. But it fell on a well-organized, diligent and united Tunisia where everyone made defensive efforts. In the first period, the Carthage Eagles managed to perfectly contain Nigeria.
The feat of Youssef Msakni
Well in their match, Tunisia opened the scoring as soon as they returned to the locker room, thanks to a feat by their captain Youssef Msakni. One of the stars of the Tunisian selection in recent years, erases Aina and sends a shot from 25 meters which surprises Okoye (1-0, 47th).
The Al Arabi striker in Qatar (31) who would undoubtedly have had a completely different career if he had wanted to try his luck in a European club (apart from a 6-month loan to Eupen in Belgium in 2019) and who missed the 2018 World Cup because of a cruciate ligament rupture, is playing his 7th CAN. It is his 15th goal in 80 selections. Msakni then causes the expulsion of Iwobi, author of a large sole on his ankle, after consulting the VAR (66th).
In numerical inferiority, Nigeria remains nevertheless dangerous. The Nantes player Moses Simon forces Ben Saïd to a big save on a shot from close range (67th). Tunisia, physically tested, trembled until the end as on this cross strike from Sadiq who died a few centimeters from the post (90th + 1).
Tunisia will face Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals on Saturday and therefore have six days to recover their strength.