Both teams came into their second Group D match with different outlooks as Gabon knew that a second victory would take them to the knockout stages while Tunisia had to bounce back from a draw against Zambia to ensure that they wouldn’t be looking for a win against Cameroon in their final fixture.
While the Gabonese started with the same lineup that tamed the Indomitable Lions, the North Africans had to take off their injured playmaker Ousemma Darragi in favor of Issam Jemaa. Faouzi Benzarti also opted for Souheil Berradhia instead of Khaled Souissi on the right side of defense for tactical reasons.
Gabon got things underway but it was Tunisia with the first offensive as Amine Chermiti was wrongly called offside after a Youssef Msakni cross into the box that looked dangerous for the goalkeeper Didier Ovono.
The Carthage Eagles were pressing higher up the field in the early going with Gabon content to play counter attacking football. In the 8th minute this approach almost paid dividends as Aubemayang was put through on goal but Aymen Mathlouthi was equal to the effort.
Gabon got their first corner in the 10th minute after a Daniel Cousin free kick that was deflected. The ensuing header went over the bar. Then, five minutes, later Issam Jemaa dispossessed the Gabonese defense and shot from long range but his powerful effort was off target.
If the Tunisians had more ball possession, the Gabonese were looking more dangerous on their offensives. They were especially troubling their opponents on corners and in the 18th minute Eric Mouloungui should have done much better as he was wide open.
Tunisia should have opened the score in the 26th minute when a weak backpass was caught by Amine Chermiti but the striker lost his footing on the wet surface just as he had went past the onrushing keeper and was about to unleash his strike.
Gabon then had some of their own opportunities in a game that was becoming increasingly littered with fouls. Thankfully for the Tunisians, their keeper, Aymen Mathlouthi, was having a good match. In the 44th minute Mouloungui had another chance to put his team ahead with a header but once again missed the frame.
The first half ended goalless despite opportunities on both sides to open the mark. Tunisia began the second period looking motivated to take control of the game and forced a few corners with their pressure.
A Yassine MIkari free kick in the 60th minute nearly caused Ovono huge problems as it dipped right in front of him. The glovesman didn’t take the ball cleanly but no Tunisian could get on the end of the rebound.
Sensing that his team needed more of a playmaker to pick apart the well organized Panthers, Benzarti took off Youssef Msakni for Chaouki Ben Saada in the 63rd. Giresse countered by taking off Stephane N’Guema for Alain Djissikadié.
In the 67th Tunisia had calls for a penalty waved off when Issam Jemaa fell in the box after very little contact with an opposing defender. Gabon took advantage of the protests to launch a counter attack that could’ve ended favorably for them but Karim Haggui’s tidy tackle cleared the danger.
With time winding down, Benzarti then brought on Etoile du Sahel’s young forward, Ahmed Akaichi for Amine Chermiti as Tunisia searched desperately for a goal. While they were trying to find solutions, Gabon came close to unleashing one of their trademark counter attacks in the 75th minute but Aubemayang pushed his control too far into Mathlouthi’s path.
Dhaouadi then found a streaking Jemaa in the box but the Lens player contrived to miss the full volley with only the keeper to beat. Shortly thereafter he created another great chance but Akaichi found the crossbar instead of the back of the net. An imaginary offside was called on the play…
Right at the death, Gabon had a penalty call of their own when Ammar Jemal took down Cousin in the box but they were denied by the Beninese referee, Coffi Codjia.
With this draw Alain Giresse’s men go into their final fixture confident that any result other than a draw will take them to the knockout stages while Tunisia’s scenario is not as kind as they are condemned to search for a win against Cameroon.
