Sinan Rajab SENOGA
Tunisia 4-0 Mauritania
The Carthage Eagles of Tunisia recovered from match day disappointments with a 4-0 comfortable win over Mauritania in Limbe.
Tunisia had lost the opener 1-0 to Mali in a match marred by controversies and needed nothing but a comprehensive victory to keep their qualification chances alive.
Skipper Wahbi Khazri scored a brace while right back Hamza Mathlouthi and Zamalek’s Seifeddine Jaziri scored one apiece.
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Mathlouthi put the 2004 champions in front as early as the fourth minute with a close range finish.
Five minutes later, Khazri made it 2-0 with a thunderbolt strike from within the penalty area after being set up by Anis Ben Slimane.
The St. Etienne forward made it 3-0 with his second goal of the day in the 64th minute before he set up Jaziri who scored made it 4-0 two minutes later.
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It should have been 5-0 but Youssef Msakni, who replaced Khazri in the 80th minute, failed to convert a last minute penalty as his effort hit the lower post.
Tunisia are now third on the Group F table with three points, one behind Mali and Gambia who drew 1-1.
Tunisia will face Gambia in their final game with hopes of making it to next stage.
Mauritania will only play for formality against Mali in their final game.
Tunisia XI; Bechir Ben Said (GK), Hamza Mathlouthi, Bilel Ifa, Montassar Talbi, Ali Maaloul, Ellyes Skhiri, Ghaylene Chaalali, Anis Ben Slimane, Saifeddine Khaoui, Seifeddine Jaziri, Wahbi Khazri (C)
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Mauritania XI; Babacar Diop (GK), Harouna Abou Demba, Yali Dellahi, Abdoulkader Thiam, Almike Moussa Ndiaye, Idrissa Thiam, Guessouma Fofana, Aly Abeid, Hassan Houbeib, Oumar Camara, Aboubakar Kamara (C)
