At the TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations on Monday, Tunisia defeated Zambia 2-1 to advance to the quarterfinal stage.
The Young Carthage Eagles needed to win the crucial game in order to advance to the tournament’s semifinals.
Jibril Othman and Mohamed Dhaoui’s goals, each side of an equalizer from Kingstone Mutandwa, were enough to advance Tunisia in second position behind the leaders Gambia, with Benin taking third and Zambia exiting as the bottom team.
At the Cairo International Stadium, the Young Carthage Eagles got off to a strong start with both teams playing on the fast break.
Read Also:AFCON U20: Bosso Hails Agbalaka As Flying Eagles Book Knockout Ticket
Via Mohamed Dhaoui, who crossed into Zambian territory and was shot over by the roving Rayan Nasraoui, the north African managed to escape on the counter down the right channel.
Derrick Bulaya of the Young Copper Bullets gained possession outside the Tunisian box, but Mutandwa missed his hefty squared pass.
Zambia nearly won when Mathews Banda headed a corner from the left back into the action, but Kingstone Banda was unable to make it happen.
Full-back Onesmus Chipango was hit by Jibril Othman’s glancing header as it deflected off Rayan Nasraoui’s teaser cross from the left into the box for a corner.
Just after the halfway point, Jibril Othman’s close-range diving header gave Tunisia the lead.
A short corner was played by the Young Carthage Eagles, and Mohamed Derbali sent an inch-perfect cross to the far post, where Chaim El Djebali guided it across goal for the unmarked Othman to head into an open Chipolopolo goal.
Four minutes before halftime, Othman grabbed onto a through pass by Mohamed Dhaoui and almost missed doubling Tunisia’s advantage.
In the pivotal match at the Cairo International Stadium, the Cosafa champions upped the pressure, and Kingstone Mutanda had his fierce attempt swerve just wide of Raed Gazzeh’s far post.
Zambia should have equalized in the first half stoppage when Bulaya was set clear by a rapid exchange of passes, but his shot was straight at the goalkeeper.
On the 57th minute, Kingstone Mutandwa scored an outstanding goal to tie the score for Zambia and re-enter Chisi Mbewe’s team into the game.
The powerful Mutandwa maneuvered away from Mohamed Kechiche while facing goal and controlled a long throw-in before shooting beyond Raed Gazzeh.
Amon Chulu’s failure to deal with Jibril Othman’s cross-field play on 59 minutes allowed Mohamed Dhaoui to cut in and score a superb goal to give Tunisia the lead back two minutes after Zambia had tied the score.
In the final period of the game, the Chipolopolo increased the stakes as they sought an equalizer.
Ten minutes from time, Bulaya volleyed a low shot past the near post after Gazzeh was forced to make a difficult save in response to an inviting cross into the area.
In order to earn the victory and go to the finals of the TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2023, the North Africans managed to hold on.