CAIRO — Tunisia and Benin booked their places in the quarter-finals of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Tunisia beats Zambia
Tunisia defeated Zambia 2-1 in Cairo to qualify to the quarter-final phase of the tournament. The Young Carthage Eagles came into the decisive match needing to win to secure their place in the last eight.
Goals from Jibril Othman and Mohamed Dhaoui on either side of Kingstone Mutandwa equaliser was enough to send Tunisia through in second place behind leaders Gambia while Benin finished third and Zambia bow out as the bottom team.
The Young Carthage Eagles started on a bright note with both sides playing on fast break at the Cairo International Stadium.
The North African broke free on the counter down the right channel through Mohamed Dhaoui whose cross into the Zambian area was fired over by the marauding Rayan Nasraoui.
The Young Copper Bullets forward Derrick Bulaya won possession outside the Tunisian box but his heavy squared pass eluded Mutandwa.
Zambia came close when a corner from the left was headed back into the mix by Mathews Banda but Kingstone Banda couldn’t guide it home.
Full-back Rayan Nasraoui delivered a teasing cross from the left into the box but Jibril Othman’s glancing header came off Onesmus Chipango for a corner.
Tunisia broke the deadlock just after the half hour mark through Jibril Othman’s close range diving header.
The Young Carthage Eagles played a short corner with Mohamed Derbali delivering an inched perfect cross at the far post for Chaim el-Djebali to guide it across goal for the unmarked Othman to head into an unguarded Chipolopolo goal.
Othman was close to doubling Tunisia’s lead four minutes before the break when he latched onto a through ball by Mohamed Dhaoui before he dink his effort wide.
Kingstone Mutanda saw his ferocious effort go just wide of Raed Gazzeh’s far post as the Cosafa champions upped the ante in the decisive match at the Cairo International Stadium.
In first-half stoppage Zambia should have leveled matters when a quick interchange of passes freed Bulaya whose effort was straight at the keeper.
Kingstone Mutandwa drew level for Zambia with a brilliant goal to bring back Chisi Mbewe’s team into the match on 57 minutes.
Benin squeezes through
Benin has qualified to the quarter-finals despite losing 1-0 Gambia in the final Group C match in Alexandria.
The Young Cheetahs came into the match with two points from their successive draws against Zambia and Tunisia. The Young Scorpions left it late to snatch all three points to finish the group with nine points.
Gambia had already booked qualification and top spot in the group with a game to spare and coach Abdoulie Bojang made ten changes to the team that started against Zambia.
With Benin needing a point to guarantee their place in the knockout and Gambia reshuffling their team, it made the match even more interesting.
Mathias Deguenon’s team was not clinical in the match as has been in their previous matches and the problem continued during the match.
Samadou Attidjikou missed two chances to put the Cheetahs in front against the new look Young Scorpions defense which included captain Alagie Saine.
Forward Olatoundji Tessilimi had two denied by the lanky Gambian keeper Sanyang. Sanyang pulled a smart save down to his left to deny Tessilimi before his defense cleared another opportunity from Tessilimi on the half hour mark.
Benin dominated possession but failed to find the back of the net while Gambia looked a threat from set pieces through captain Alagie Saine.
Rodolfo Aloko was presented with a chance on 69 minutes but he couldn’t convert for Benin.
The Young Scorpions broke the deadlock against the run of play through Tamimou Ouorou’s own goal on 88 minutes.
Left back Sainey Sanyang delivered an inswinging ball towards Mansour Mbye whose diving header was saved by the keeper before Tamimou inadvertently turned it to his goal.
The Cheetahs started the day in second place but the defeat and Tunisia’s 2-1 victory over Zambia moved them to third in Group C.
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