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AFCON 2017: Tunisia set up date with Burkina Faso in quarters

Gabon

Tunisia booked their ticket to the AFCON 2017 quarter finals after a 6 goal thriller against Zimbabwe in Libreville on Monday.

The Carthage Eagles became the first team to score 4 goals in the tournament, as they thrashed the Zimbabwe Warriors 4-2 in front of a measly 1, 852 spectators in the 40,000 capacity stadium.

Naim Sliti, Youssef Msakni, Taha Yassine Khenissi and Wahbi Khazri scored for Tunisia and Knowledge Musona and substitute Tendai Ndoro for Zimbabwe.

Senegal topped the Group B standings with seven points followed by Tunisia with six, Algeria two and Zimbabwe one.

Tunisia began the match at the Stade de l’Amitie knowing a draw would suffice to clinch second place and reach the knockout phase.

But there was never a hint from the north Africans that they were playing for a point and Sliti scored via a deflected shot on nine minutes.

Sliti set up the second for Msakni on 22 minutes and Khenissi beat goalkeeper Tatenda Mkuruva at his near post for the third Tunisian goal on 36 minutes.

A superb Musona goal three minutes before half-time offered Zimbabwe a glimmer of hope only for Khazri to convert a 45th-minute penalty.

The tempo inevitably slowed after half-time with both teams playing for the third time in nine days and Ndoro scored the lone second-half goal.

Tunisian striker Wahbi Khazri said: “Four goals at half-time, not in all matches that we would have the chance to do that. It helped us a lot, we were serious, we got the job done and tonight we’ve qualified. “

“We certainly surprised the Zimbabweans with our game especially in the first half when we were well in control and recovery of the ball. We attacked several times and were lucky also to score goals,“said Tunisia’s coach.

Under the charges of Polish coach, Tunisia will meet Burkina Faso on Saturday in the first quarter final, before Cameroon square off with Senegal in the second quarter final of the day.

Follow @Muisyo_

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