Niger 1-2 Tunisia
Issam Jem�a scored a 90th-minute winner to put Tunisia on the verge of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory over Niger.
The substitute stepped inside two defenders and hammered a left-footed shot into the net to shake off Niger's challenge in the Group C game at Stade de l'Amiti� in Libreville, Gabon.
Youssef Msakni's second goal in two games had put Tunisia ahead in the fourth minute and seemingly on course for a straightforward victory but Ngounou Tonji equalised five minutes later.
Niger had the Tunisians rattled for the rest of the first half, hitting the post and missing a string of chances through the centre-forward Moussa Maazou before a shaky Tunisia found their composure in the second half.
Gabon's later 3-2 victory over Morocco sent both Tunisia and Gabon through to the last eight, with the Moroccans the latest high-profile team to leave the tournament early.
Msakni put the Tunisians in front with a weaving run and finish reminiscent of his goal in their opening win over Morocco, skipping away from defenders and slipping his shot neatly past Kassaly Daouda.
The lead lasted five minutes, however, before Niger scored their first ever goal at a major tournament, with Tonji's header greeted with joy on the bench and by the coach, Harouna Doula.
Maazou challenged the Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi in the air with the striker flapping at the ball with his hand but there seemed to be no contact and Tonji followed up to head into an empty net. The goal stood, despite strong protests from the Tunisians.
Maazou, who was embroiled in a physical battle with the Tunisia captain, Karim Haggui, throughout the first half, had a great chance to complete a shock turnaround in the 18th minute but shot wide after shrugging off a challenge from Haggui.
Maazou again powered away from Haggui on the half-hour before pushing a right-footed shot past the far post.
The Niger winger Issoufou Boubacar's shot three minutes later struck the same post after a touch from Mathlouthi, with Tunisia completely rattled and hanging on against the unfancied Niger.
The Tunisia manager, Sami Trabelsi, looked on with arms crossed and his team would have been relieved to reach half-time without further damage against the suddenly rampant tournament debutants.
Niger's players, as has become their tradition at the tournament, knelt in a huddle to pray at the end of the first half and before kick-off in the second.
Jem�a was brought on at the break and the experienced forward appeared to settle Tunisia. Daouda was off his line quickly in the 57th minute to scramble a through- ball away with Jem�a closing in, and Msakni curled a shot just wide soon after.
In the 64th minute the defender Aymen Abdennour, who had taken over the marking duties of the troublesome Maazou, surged forward and sent a low shot from distance bobbling past Daouda and off the post.
Almost immediately Niger cleared upfield to Maazou, who forced his way past the last defender but could not beat Mathlouthi.
Tunisia's Ammar Jemal headed over with Daouda out of position and the goal gaping in the 89th minute and sank to his knees and screamed at himself in frustration with the North Africans appearing to have slipped up.
But Jem�a latched on to a pass on the right of the penalty area in the dying moments, coolly cut inside the scrambling Niger defenders and finished convincingly.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jan/27/niger-tunisia-africa-cup-of-nations
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