AFCON 2015: Eq Guinea stun Tunisia to progress into semi-finals


Equatorial Guinea provided the greatest upset in Africa Cup of Nations history when a brace from Javier Balboa inspired them to a 2-1 win over Tunisia in a quarterfinal in Bata on Saturday night.

In a match that went to extra time, Nzalang Nacional rescued themselves with a controversial injury-time spot kick from Balboa to cancel out Ahmed Akaichi’s opener for the Carthage Eagles, before the dreadlocked midfielder netted a brilliant second to secure a famous victory for the tournament hosts.

Equatorial Guinea started brightly and passed the ball around with a good tempo in the opening minutes. However, the North Africans soon took an iron grip on proceedings in midfield and began to dominate the match.

The likes of Wahbi Khazri, Ahmed Akaichi and captain Yassine Chikhaoui saw plenty of the ball for the North Africans, though clear chances were few and far between thanks to a well-organised Nzalang Nacional defence.

Tunisia’s only real chance of the first 45 minutes arrived on the half hour mark when Akaichi played a great cross from the right that was arched perfectly for the late run of Ferjani Sassi, but his header wasn’t a clean one and the ball drifted wide of the target.

Equatorial Guinea’s best chance of the half arrived six minutes before the interval when Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi flapped at a free kick and the loose ball fell kindly for Javier Balboa, whose goal-bound shot was cleared away by Syam Ben Youssef.

Tunisia almost broke the deadlock early in the second half when Chikhaoui provided a pull-back from the left by-line and Akaichi whipped a left-footed shot on target, but goalkeeper Felipe Ovono made a fine save to tip the ball over the crossbar.

In the end the Carthage Eagles had to wait until the 70th minute to finally break through, and it was a superbly executed attacking move. Chikhaoui played a great ball out wide for the overlapping run of Hamza Mathlouthi, whose first-time cross was turned home by Akaichi for his third goal of the tournament.

The home side almost pulled level in the 83rd minute when substitute Iban put Emilio Nsue in on goal, but the EG captain was denied by a brilliant save from Aymen Mathlouthi, who somehow kept out the fiercely-struck shot.

Controversy erupted in injury time when Nzalang Nacional were awarded a soft penalty after Iban Balado tumbled under a challenge from Hamza Mathlouthi. Javier Balboa converted the spot kick to send the game to extra time.

Tunisia felt greatly aggrieved at the penalty decision and they were dealt a further body blow in the 103rd minute when Balboa scored his second, a beautifully struck free kick into the top corner of Mathlouthi’s net to make it 2-1 to EG.

The North Africans were unable to summon a reply to send the game to penalties, and Nzalang Nacional were left to celebrate the greatest victory in their football history.
 
EG will now face either Ghana or Guinea in the second semifinal, set to be played in Malabo on Thursday, February 5.

SOURCE: SuperSports.