MTNFootball

But in truth Roger Lemerre's side never really got going and failed to live up to their pre-tournament billing.

They started with a nervy 2-2 draw with Senegal. Issam Jomaa gave them the perfect start with an early goal, but it needed a late equaliser from Mejdi Traoui to scramble a point for the north Africans.

They were then gifted all three points in their next match as woeful defending from South Africa allowed the Tunisians to net three soft goals, and eventually run out 3-1 winners. Francileudo dos Santos netted a brace and Chaouki Ben Saada the other, but the result was more about the ineptness of the South Africans than Tunisian brilliance.

They went into their final game against Angola with both sides knowing that a draw would be enough to put them the quarterfinals, and they played out a dour 0-0 draw which served both teams' purposes.

The Tunisians saved their best performance for the quarterfinal against Cameroon, but went down 3-2 after extra-time in what was a brave display. Ben Saada pulled one back after they had fallen 2-0 behind, before Yassine Chikhaoui equalised with nine minutes remaining in normal time.

But the Tunisian hearts were broken three minutes into extra-time as Stephane Mbia scored for the Indomitable Lions.