| Goals | Goals |
|---|---|
| 13. Houssine Kharja (86’) | 19. Saber Khelifa (33’) |
| 7. Youssef Msakni (76’) |
Great win for Tunisia
Tunisia have beaten Morocco 2-1 in a match in which the Atlas Lions only have themselves to blame for missed chances.
Saber Khelifa opened the scoring in Libreville with a slight touch on Khaled Korbi’s corner, and Youssef Msakni scored the second after a fantastic solo run.
The goal was credited to Khelifa, but could still change to Korbi’s if CAF look into the decision.
Houssine Kharja pulled one back late in the game for Morocco, but it was little too late.
Morocco started the better of the two Group C sides, keeping the ball in midfield and passing it well with some darting runs being made by the forwards.
But it wass Morocco ‘keeper Nadir Lamyaghri called into the action first. He saved very well from close range when a corner kick was almost squeezed in at the near post.
In the thirteenth minute Marouane Chamakh should have opened the score when a clever one-two put him one-on-one with standout performer Aymen Mathlouthi, but the Tunisian ‘keeper did brilliantly to come out and block the shot.
Five minutes later, he did very well to keep out Mbark Boussoufa’s near post strike with a strong arm, after Boussoufa had turned his marker excellently inside the area.
At this stage Morocco were in control and looked as if they would score at any time. But after 23 minutes, against the run of play, Zouhaier Dhaouadi got a powerful long range shot away, which hit the upright.
Then the Carthage Eagles surprised by scoring the opener, after 34 minutes, when Korbi’s free kick from deep evaded all the defenders and curled in at the far post.
Khelifa seemed to get a slight touch with his head, but replays showed that he never got a touch to the ball despite claiming the goal.
The second half was tense as Tunisia did everything they could to frustrate Morocco.
The early introduction of Adel Taarabt made a difference as he prodded and probed, looking for an equaliser.
After 66 minutes another substitute Youssouf Hadji did brilliantly with his first touch, but could not curl the ball into the far corner and sent his attempt high and wide.
Then in the 76th minute substitute Msakni did brilliantly to weave his way into space and drill home a second for the Carthage Eagles.
Morocco finally broke through with an 86th minute close-range goal by Houssine Kharja.
But it was little too late despite a good attempt by Morocco to find an equaliser in the final ten minutes.
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