AFRICAN SPORTS MONTHLY
'Sports is our Business'
  • Home
  • NEWS
  • Radio
  • TV

Equatorial Guinea stun Tunisia to reach semis

2/1/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Former Real Madrid winger Javier Balboa scored twice as hosts Equatorial Guinea reached the CAF Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals with a stunning 2-1 extra-time victory over Tunisia.

The quarter-final winner came 12 minutes into extra time in port city Bata when Balboa superbly curled a free-kick into the top corner of the net past goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi. The result was among the greatest upsets in the 58-year competition with Tunisia 96 places above Equatorial Guinea in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings.

Ahmed Akaichi put Tunisia ahead on 70 minutes with a close-range shot and Balboa levelled in stoppage time by converting a penalty. The reward for 28-1 pre-tournament long shots Equatorial Guinea is a semi-final with Ghana or Guinea in capital Malabo next Thursday. Earlier, Congo DR staged a stunning comeback in the first match of a Bata double-header to defeat Congo 4-2 and secure a last-four showdown with Algeria or Côte d'Ivoire. 


Aymen Mathlouthi was a virtual spectator during a goalless opening half largely bossed by the Carthage Eagles. The hosts survived an early scare when the ball flashed menacingly across the goalmouth of Equatorial Guinea shot-stopper Felipe Ovono without anyone getting a touch. Midfield enforcer Houcine Ragued was yellow-carded on nine minutes for fouling Ellong Doualla as the North Africans made their physical presence felt.

Ovono dropped a corner and needed medical attention after being challenged for the loose ball by Tunisian defence marshal Aymen Abdennour. A wild swing at the ball by Wahbi Khazri saw the ball fly wide and a few minutes later his close-range shot was deflected for a corner.

The best Tunisian chance of the half came on the half-hour when Ferjani Sassi evaded several defenders only to nod an Akaichi cross wide. Equatorial Guinea finally troubled Aymen Mathlouthi six minutes before half-time and his weak punched clearance almost led to a goal. Balboa pounced on the loose ball just outside the box and his low, goal-bound shot was cleared by Syam Ben Youssef. Tunisia finished the half stronger with Akaichi delivering another good cross that captain Yassine Chikhaoui handled as he battled for possession.

Akaichi brought out the best in Ovono soon after half-time with a snap shot that the young goalkeeper tipped over. The goal that ended the stalemate stemmed from a midfield pass by Chikhaoui to Mohamed Yaakoubi on the right wing.

His cross was aimed at Akaichi, who got in front of Diosdado Mbele and steered the ball past Ovono to stun the crowd. But two minutes into stoppage time home supporters erupted in joy as Balboa sent Aymen Mathlouthi the wrong way from the spot.

By: FIFA.com
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    Menu

    All
    2014 FIFA World Cup
    Athletics
    Basketball
    Boxing
    Commonwealth Games
    Cricket
    Golf
    Hockey
    Marathons
    News
    Olympics
    Rugby
    Soccer
    Spotlight
    Tennis
    Track And Field
    Volleyball
    Women Soccer
    Wrestling


    Picture

    RSS Feed


    Tweets by ASMONTHLY

Tweet to @ASMONTHLY

Contact Us

    Contact Us

Submit

Donate & Support Our Efforts at African Sports Media Network