Msakni penalty preserves Tunisia’s perfect record

SKIPPER Youssef Msakni scored from the penalty spot as Tunisia retained their 100% record in Group J of the 2021 Total Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers with a slim 1-0 victory over visitors Tanzania on Friday.

The experienced forward slotted the spot kick in the first half as Tunisia moved to nine points while Tanzania remained bottom of the standings with three points off their opening day victory over Equatorial Guinea.

The Carthage Eagles got into the lead after 14 minutes through Msakni’s penalty. The skipper took responsibility himself after he was brought down by Tanzania keeper Aishi Manula as he raced on to an Ali Maaloul pass from the left.

Tunisia was the better side, pinning the Tanzanians into their own half.

They had another chance after 25 minutes but Ferjani Sassi’s header from the edge of the six yard box off a well worked corner kick routine went inches wide with manual well beaten.

Tanzania did not register a shot on target throughout, and the closest they came was when Simon Msuva went for a short from range, but his effort skied over the bar.

Tunisia remained in control in the second half as well, camping in the Tanzanian half. Five minutes after the restart, Hamza Rafia should have punished Tanzanian left back Mohamed Hussein for losing the ball cheaply, but he placed his shot wide.

Wahbi Khazri had two good chances later on, but was denied by the busy hands of Aishi Manula. In the 57th minute, the experienced forward found some space at the edge of the box but his shot was palmed away by the hawk-eyed keeper.

A minute later, he was at the end of a beautiful team move but once again, Manula denied him. Tunisia continued creating chances and in the 71st minute, Saif-Eddine Khaoui who had just come on had a chance when he broke into the box but his ferocious shot was smothered away by Manula. – cafonline.com

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