ACTUALITE |
01.02.2002
World Cup-bound Tunisia crash out of African Nations Cup
KAYES
World Cup qualifiers Tunisia were eliminated from the African Nations Cup on Thursday after a 0-0 draw with Group D winners Senegal.
The Senegalese Lions, who have also qualified for this year`s World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan, topped the table with seven points followed by Egypt with six, Tunisia two and Zambia one.
In the quarter-finals on Monday, Senegal tackle the Democratic Republic of Congo in Bamako while Egypt travel to the south-west town of Sikasso for a showdown with defending champions Cameroon.
A litany of missed Tunisian chances included a fluffed penalty kick by Slim Benachour, whose early second-half attempt was pushed away by Oumar Diallo. Needing a win to have any chance of survival, Tunisia failed again soon after with three goal-bound shots blocked by the Senegal in a frantic penalty-area scramble.
While a makeshift Senegalese side showing 10 changes from that which defeated Zambia won more possession, they only threatened to score when crack striker Al-Hadji Diouf came on 20 minutes into the second half. Souleymane Camara came closest for the west Africans when he rounded veteran goalkeeper Chokri al-Ouaer, but another long-serving member of the Tunisian team, Radhi Jaidi, cleared the shot off the line.
Tunisian frustrations boiled over in the closing stages when Turkey-based midfielder Zoubier Baya took a penalty-area `dive` and was cautioned by Italian referee Domenico Messina.
Frenchman Henri Michel, who took charge of Tunisia only two months ago, slammed his team ahead of the match, saying they were mentally, physically, tactically and technically lacking.
If his comments were meant to lift the Carthage Eagles, the ploy failed and the future of Michel must be in doubt with sections of the Tunisian media already calling for his dismissal.
For another Frenchman, Senegal coach Bruno Metsu, the result demonstrated the depth of talent available to him as a virtual reserve side held the team ranked No 1 in Africa.
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Hits: 1 | Source:Dailysoccer | |
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