10-man Eagles progress to AFCON

Little ones stunned Tunisia c African Cup of Nationsprevailing in the match between 1/8 and penalties, despite playing much of the match with 10 men.

Tunisia were favorites to reach the last 16 and set up a meeting with Senegal, who beat Sudan 3-1 earlier on Saturday.

They went into the match without a win in four AFCON meetings with Mali, but their hopes received a huge boost when Voiot Koulibaly was sent off for a rash challenge on Hannibal Maybry in the 26th minute.

Tunisia struggled to make their extra man count and there were no shots on goal for either team in a game that lacked quality until the 78th minute.

But Tunisia looked to have secured a place in the last 16 when Firas Shawat headed them in front in the 88th minute.

Yet there was a dramatic twist in stoppage time as Yassin Meria was determined to deal in the area, giving Mali talisman Lassin Sinajoko the chance to level them from the penalty spot.

He promptly did so with his third goal of the tournament and Tunisia failed to find a way through Mali’s defense for the second time in the next 30 minutes of extra time.

Tunisia twice surrendered their lead in the penalty shootout and Mohamed Ali Ben Romdan’s miss with their fifth spot-kick allowed Bilal Toure to seal a famous triumph for the Eagles in Casablanca.