AFCON

Afcon wrap: Tunisia beat Ghana on penalties, Ivory Coast edge Mali

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Tunisia and Ivory Coast booked their spot in the final eight at the Africa Cup of Nations with victories over Ghana and Mali, respectively.

Tunisia 1-1 Ghana

Ferjani Sassi struck the winning spot kick as Tunisia beat Ghana 5-4 in a penalty shootout to secure their place in the Afcon quarter-finals.

Tunisia had led through Taha Yassine Khenissi’s 73rd-minute opener, but their substitute Rami Bedoui headed an own goal in the closing moments to force extra time.

After the extra 30 minutes ended goalless, Ghana’s Leeds forward Caleb Ekuban was the only player not to score in the shootout and it was left to Sassi to coolly convert and secure Tunisia a last-eight clash with Madagascar.

Tunisia had created very little before substitute Khenissi’s effort midway through the second half was cleared off the goalline.

Ellyes Skhiri’s header then hit the crossbar and 60 seconds later Khenissi fired the North Africans into the lead after meeting Wajdi Kechrida’s cutback at the near post.

The Black Stars equalised in the first minute of stoppage time when Tunisia substitute Bedoui, who had stepped off the bench two minutes earlier, headed Mubarak Wakaso’s deep free kick into his own net with his first touch.

An uneventful first half was overshadowed by referee Victor Miguel de Freitas Gomes’ controversial decision to chalk off Andre Ayew’s 43rd-minute effort for an apparent handball by Thomas Partey.

Television replays appeared to show the ball had hit Partey on the chest and video assistant referees will not be introduced until the quarter-finals.

Ivory Coast 1-0 Mali

A Wilfried Zaha strike was enough to guide Ivory Coast to a tight 1-0 win over Mali, sending the Les Elephants into the last eight at Afcon.

Mali may have dominated the statistics on the day but just could not find the back of the net, allowing Crystal Palace man Zaha to ghost in and poke in a winner with 14 minutes to play.