CAPE TOWN – Winger Naim Sliti scored one goal and set up two others as World Cup-bound Tunisia secured a thumping 4-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea in their opening 2023 African Cup of Nations Group J qualifier at the Stade Olympique de Rades.
Sliti started the scoring himself and created goals for Seifeddine Jaziri and Youssef Msakni, who bagged a brace, as the home side overcame a lacklustre opening period to easily see off their 10-man opponents.
The lively Sliti had had a goal chalked off for an infringement when he gave his side the lead on 56 minutes, Reuters reported.
The ball fell to him at the back post from a deep cross and he used his strength to hold off a defender before drilling his shot low into the net.
The visitors´ cause was not helped when substitute Joan Lopez Elo picked up a second yellow card with 19 minutes remaining.
Tunisia got their second as the impressive Sliti turned provider, weighting a superb cross that was perfect for Jaziri to head powerfully into the net.
Substitute Msakni added two more goals to add gloss to the scoreline in a morale-boosting victory.
In other fixture in Group L, Mozambique and Rwanda played out a 1-1 draw in neutral Johannesburg.
After a goalless first-half, Rwanda forward Blaise Nishimwe gave his side the lead with a neat chip from 25 yards after he saw Mozambique goalkeeper Ernan off his line.
But that advantage lasted only two minutes as Stanley Ratifo headed in a cross from Gildo Vilanculos to bring the hosts level.
The match was staged in South Africa after Mozambique´s Estádio do Zimpeto on the outskirts of Maputo was deemed inadequate by the Confederation of African Football, one of a number of teams forced to host qualifiers outside of their borders.
Mozambique enjoyed early dominance in terms of possession, but they found chances hard to come by, with their first notable effort on goal coming in the 18th minute when veteran Elias Pelembe struck an effort just wide direct from a free-kick.
Their first true opening arrived on 25 minutes when Kito and Catamo combined down the right to set up a chance for Ratifo, who struck his effort high and wide from just a few metres out.
The Mambas had another opportunity less than 60 seconds later, as Catamo got on the end of a cross from the left flank by Mandava and directed a shot on target, but Rwanda goalkeeper Olivier Kwizera made a fine save.
The Amavubi offered little in attack but could have claimed the lead in the 28th minute when left wingback Emmanuel Imanishimwe provided a cross from the left to pick out the run of Meddie Kagere, but he was only able to shin a shot wide of the mark – with Mozambique keeper Ernan Siluane scrambling to try and get across.
The final chance of the first half went the way of Mozambique in the 43rd minute, with Witi clipping in a cross from the left to find Ratifo, whose glancing header travelled just wide of the far post to leave the game at 0-0 heading into the interval.
The first clear chance of the second half arrived 10 minutes after the restart, with Catamo cutting inside from the right flank and shooting on goal with his left foot, but once again Kwizera was equal to the task and made a solid save.
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