AFCON: Senegal, Tunisia Move To Quarter Finals

Senegal and Tunisia have clinched quarter-final spots in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon, as they emerged winners and runners-up of Group B respectively on Monday.

Four first-half goals from Naim Sliti, Youssef Msakni, Yassine Khenissi and Wahbi Khazri were enough to upset Zimbabwe, who netted only twice, to put Tunisia into the next round of the tournament.

The opening goal came in the ninth minute when a corner was sent directly to Sliti 20 yards out and his deflected shot beat Zimbabwe keeper Tatenda Mkuruva. Msakni doubled the lead in the 22nd minute. Khenissi added the third with a sliding near-post finish after being played in by Naguez.

Zimbabwe’s Musona claimed a consolation goal just before half-time before Khazri converted a penalty to make it four at the clock of 45 minutes. The scoreline became 4-2 when Ndoro pulled in a delightful goal in the 58th minute, and it remained so till the end of the game.

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Senegal, who won their first two group matches, already knew their fate and only needed a draw to top the group – which they got.

Islam Slimani scored twice for Algeria but his brace was not enough to keep them in the tournament as they drew 2-2 against Senegal in Franceville on Monday.

The Leicester City striker put Algeria ahead on two occasions but each time Senegal equalised, first through Papa Diop and second by Moussa Sow, as they finished Group B in first place with seven points.

Algeria were one of the pre-tournament favourites but have crashed out without winning a game – losing to Tunisia and drawing the other two.

As it stands, Group A winners Burkina Faso await Tunisia in the round-of-8, while Group B runners-up Cameroon will play Senegal, as they seek to clinch the tickets to the last four of the 2017 Nations Cup.