Tunisia defeat South Africa by 3-1

Tamale, Jan. 27, GNA - Tunisia on Sunday brightened their chances of qualification into the group of eight when they beat Bafana Bafana of South Africa by three goals to one in the second "Group D" match at the Tamale Sports Stadium. Before the match sports analysts in Tamale predicted a win for South Africa but they failed to utilise the numerous chances created on the pitch and to take advantage of the massive support to at least draw.

The Tunisians impressed fans at the stadium by opening scoring as early as the eighth minute by Dos Santos Silva Francileudo.


The early goal seemed to have demoralised the Bafana Bafana, who lost total control of the game and committed a lot blunders resulting in the remaining two goals.


Ben Saada Chaouki added his name to the score sheet when he slotted the ball into the net after Zaiem Kamal's shot hit the upright and he made no mistake to convert the rebound to register the second goal in the 32nd minute.

The Tunisians were now playing with maximum confidence and making sure they did not give Zuma Sibusiso of South Africa the chance to operate. Tunisia was gifted in the 34th minute with a goal when goalkeeper Kasraoui Hamdi of South Africa lost control of the back pass from his defence. Dos Santos picked it, dribbled the goalkeeper and registered his personal second and the third goal for his country. The second half saw both teams struggling hard with Tunisia more aggressively searching for more goals while South Africa managed to impress fans with antics.


South Africa was lucky not to concede another goal in the 80th minute when Chikhaoui Yasin's dribbling antics and superb cross failed did not receive the needed connection for the fourth goal. Pienaar Steven had the only consolation goal for South Africans in the 86th minute when he struggled with defenders to decrease the tally for his country.


Their chances of qualification into the next stage is slim but coach Parreira Carlos say all was not over until it was over. Earlier Angola also beat Senegal by the same margin, which also brightened their chances of qualifying into the next stage of the competition.