Tanzania reached the Africa Cup of Nations knockout stage for the primary time. Picture: AFP
RABAT:
Tanzania reached the Africa Cup of Nations knockout stage for the primary time, 45 years after their maiden look, by coming from behind to attract 1-1 with fellow qualifiers Tunisia in Rabat on Tuesday.
Ismael Gharbi transformed a penalty simply earlier than half-time for Tunisia and Feisal Salum levelled early within the second half within the Moroccan capital.
Tanzania have been attempting since 1980 to advance past the group stage, and have nonetheless to win in 12 matches spanning 4 appearances. They squeezed into the spherical of 16 after two attracts and one loss.
Tunisia completed second in Group C with 4 factors, 5 lower than table-toppers Nigeria. Tanzania pipped Angola on objectives scored for one in every of 4 locations reserved for third-placed groups.
Raphael Onyedika scored twice as already certified Nigeria overcame 10-man Uganda 3-1 within the different Group C match to take care of a one hundred pc report after the group stage.
Tanzania will face hosts and title favourites Morocco in Rabat on Sunday, at some point after Tunisia sort out Mali.
Nigeria will meet the third-placed crew in Group F — presently Mozambique — on Monday in Fes.
“We didn’t have sufficient time to arrange the crew, however labored along with the federation,” mentioned Argentina-born Tanzania coach Miguel Gamondi, who changed native Hemed Suleiman solely final month.
“I really feel very proud, not only for myself, however for the nation. I wished to vary this mentality of Tanzania at all times being underdogs.
“To qualify is nice for Tanzania. I hope this success will likely be a reminder to those gamers and the following era of gamers of the potential of Tanzanian soccer.”
Gamondi gave an AFCON debut to 33-year-old goalkeeper Hussein Masaranga, one in every of three modifications to the crew that drew with Uganda of their earlier match.
Audacious objective try
Tunisia coach Sami Trabelsi dropped one other 33-year-old, captain Ferjani Sassi, to the bench, however the midfielder got here on early within the second half to win his one hundredth cap.
Ismael Gharbi struck the submit for Tunisia early on. He then noticed an audacious long-range effort land on the roof of the netting to the aid of poorly positioned Masaranga.
Tunisia had a slight edge in possession and went forward on 43 minutes when the Congolese referee awarded a penalty after reviewing a goalmouth incident on the pitchside VAR monitor.
Huge-screen replays confirmed Ibrahim Hamad fouling Hazem Mastouri. The spot kick was transformed by Gharbi.
The lead didn’t final lengthy, as Feisal Salum levelled two minutes into the second half. He fired goalwards from past the D and the ball sneaked into the nook previous Aymen Dahmen.
In Fes, Nigeria went forward on 28 minutes by a properly constructed transfer that exploited house within the Ugandan defence.
A intelligent move from Bruno Onyemaechi arrange Fisayo Dele-Bashiru to ship a low cross that Onuachu struck into the web regardless of being surrounded by three opponents.
Uganda suffered an enormous blow on 56 minutes when goalkeeper Salim Magoola was red-carded for dealing with exterior the realm. Magoola had changed injured 40-year-old captain Denis Onyango for the second half.
Legason Alionz got here on, the third goalkeeper utilized by Uganda with the match lower than an hour previous. He was crushed twice inside eight minutes by Raphael Onyedika as Nigeria surged to a three-goal lead.
Onyedika twice discovered the underside proper nook with photographs. Samuel Chukwueze, on mortgage to Fulham from AC Milan, set the midfielder as much as rating on each events.
Rogers Mato netted a comfort objective on 75 minutes for Uganda, who will co-host the following AFCON in 2027 with Kenya and Tanzania.
