Tunisia’s penalty curse struck again as defeat by The Gambia left the Carthage Eagles with a daunting last 16 Africa Cup of Nations tie against Nigeria.
Baboucarr Gaye saved Seifeddine Jaziri’s penalty as Tunisia missed from the spot for the third successive game.
The Gambia capitalised as Musa Barrow’s 25-yard free-kick struck the bar before Ablie Jallow hit an injury-time winner.
The result means Tunisia finish third in Group F while debutants The Gambia, in second, will face Guinea.
Both countries began the game in Limbe knowing that they were already sure of progressing because of results elsewhere.
However, Tunisia knew anything other than victory would likely mean a meeting with Nigeria – the only team with a 100% record at the tournament – in the first round of the knock-out stages.
So, despite a Covid outbreak that left coach Mondher Kebaier only able to name five substitutes with 12 players unavailable, it was no shock the 2004 champions were the more positive side throughout.
Scorpions provide late sting again
Tunisia’s clearest opening saw back-up keeper Gaye dive to his right to thwart Jaziri, who won the spot-kick himself by drawing a foul from the errant foot of The Gambia captain Pa Modou Jagne.
Jaziri became the third different Tunisia player to miss from the spot in the tournament after Youssef Msakni hit the woodwork in the 4-0 win over Mauritania and Wahbi Khazri was denied in the controversial 1-0 defeat by Mali.
Gaye had produced an excellent save to thwart Aissa Bilal Laidouni seconds before the penalty was awarded, and his cause was perhaps helped by the delay leading up to the spot-kick as the Scorpions protested the decision.
That led to ugly scenes after the half-time whistle, with referee Fernando Guerrero Ramirez brandishing a red card to unused Tunisia substitute goalkeeper Farouk Ben Mustapha.
Kebaier’s side laboured after the break, perhaps because of their shortage of numbers – with skipper Khazri among the dozen players unavailable – and The Gambia came on strong, as Barrow was unlucky to see his superb set-piece strike cannon off the woodwork.
But, after late confusion that saw Ramirez appear to send off Tunisia’s Mohamed Drager, only to instead issue separate yellow cards to the defender and team-mate Hannibal Mejbri, Jallow lashed into the top corner from just inside the area three minutes into stoppage time.
It was another moment to remember for the 23-year-old, who scored his country’s first ever Nations Cup finals goal in their opening game win over Mauritania.
At 150th, the lowest ranked team in the competition, The Gambia had also scored a 90th-minute penalty against Mali to draw their second match, and will be hopeful of punching above their weight once again when Tom Saintfiet’s side face Guinea on Monday.
Line-ups
Gambia
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 18Gayé
- 14Sonko-SundbergSubstituted forTourayat 61′minutes
- 12GomezBooked at 89mins
- 5Colley
- 13Jagne
- 16Jallow-MbyeSubstituted forJallowat 45′minutes
- 21JankoSubstituted forBadamosiat 62′minutes
- 15SohnaSubstituted forAdamsat 45′minutesBooked at 48mins
- 2Bobb
- 11BarrowSubstituted forJobeat 85′minutes
- 10Barrow
Substitutes
- 3Jallow
- 4Ngum
- 7Jallow
- 9Ceesay
- 17Jobe
- 22Sibi
- 23Badamosi
- 24Darboe
- 25Sanneh
- 26Touray
- 27Njie
- 28Adams
Tunisia
Formation 4-3-3
- 22Saïd
- 21MathlouthiBooked at 45minsSubstituted forDrägerat 57′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 2Ifa
- 3Talbi
- 13El Abdi
- 25Ben Slimane
- 17Skhiri
- 28Laidouni
- 8KhaouiSubstituted forMsakniat 57′minutes
- 11Jaziri
- 19RafiaSubstituted forMejbriat 68′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Ben Mustapha
- 4Rekik
- 7Msakni
- 14Mejbri
- 20Dräger
- Referee:
- Fernando Guerrero Ramírez
Live Text
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Match ends, Gambia 1, Tunisia 0.
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Second Half ends, Gambia 1, Tunisia 0.
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Goal! Gambia 1, Tunisia 0. Ablie Jallow (Gambia) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Musa Barrow with a cross.
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Mohamed Dräger (Tunisia) is shown the yellow card.
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Foul by Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia).
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Pa Modou Jagne (Gambia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Youssef Msakni (Tunisia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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James Gomez (Gambia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Youssef Msakni (Tunisia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by James Gomez (Gambia).
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Substitution, Gambia. Bubacarr Jobe replaces Modou Barrow.
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Corner, Tunisia. Conceded by Omar Colley.
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Attempt blocked. Ellyes Skhiri (Tunisia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Mohamed Dräger.
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Foul by Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia).
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Muhammed Badamosi (Gambia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Ablie Jallow (Gambia).
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Attempt blocked. Aïssa Bilal Laidouni (Tunisia) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Youssef Msakni.
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Attempt missed. Youssef Msakni (Tunisia) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Hannibal Mejbri with a cross.
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Attempt blocked. Musa Barrow (Gambia) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ablie Jallow.