Tunisia confirmed their spot at the 2025 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations this week, following an eventful 3-2 victory against Madagascar in Group A at Loftus Versfeld on Thursday evening.
Despite a bright start to the game by Barea, Tunisia took the lead through a well-taken effort by Hamza Rafia in the sixth minute.
After a fine save by the Madagascar goalkeeper, Rafia latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the area which was followed up with an accurate shot toward the goal.
Tunisia 🇹🇳 move ahead in South Africa!
— Pan-Africa Football (@PanAfricaFooty) November 14, 2024
A big boost for nervous Tunisian supporters thanks to an early goal from Hamza Rafia 🇹🇳 who puts the Carthage Eagles ahead against Madagascar 🇲🇬.
Tunisia are locked in a tight battle for qualification out of Group A and a win is needed to… pic.twitter.com/CG6BqPNsV4
Madagascar were gifted an equaliser in the 20th minute following a dreadful error by Amanallah Memmiche in goal.
In what was supposed to be a routine catch from a corner situation, the Tunisian goalkeeper mistimed his catch and subsequently saw the ball fumble into his own net.
The Eagles of Carthage began to see more of the ball after 30 minutes at Loftus as Madagascar sat back and soaked up the opposition’s pressure.
Madagascar however, remained aggressive in counter attacking situations.
Sayfallah Ltaief restored Tunisia’s lead in emphatic fashion moments before the break following an incisive passing move that expertly breached the Madagascar offside trap.
Played through on goal by Hazem Mestouri, Ltaief subsequently slotted the ball home with a clinical finish inside the 18-yard-area.
What a goal from Tunisia 🇹🇳!
— Pan-Africa Football (@PanAfricaFooty) November 14, 2024
Tunisia are back ahead in South Africa against Madagascar 🇲🇬.
An excellent pass sends in Sayfallah Ltaief who produces an excellent finish!
2-1 Tunisia 🇹🇳 through 41 minutes.#CAN2025 #AFCON2025Q #AFCON #AFCONQ2025 pic.twitter.com/tcHvLiKrpk
Then, as Madagascar made their way into the Tunisia half, Jean-Pierre Morgan found Ibrahim Amada, who beat Memmiche at his near post with a well taken left-footed shot from outside the area to equalise matters on the troke of halftime.
The pace of the game slowed down considerably at the start of the second half with both nations taking their time on the ball, particularly when building from defensive positions.
The score remained level as the clock hit the 70th minute as Madagascar and Tunisia struggled to make the most of their scoring opportunities and seemed to have lacked ideas going forward.
As fatigue set in, both sets of players made numerous mistakes in crucial areas of the pitch.
The Eagles of Carthage piled on the pressure en-route to the 80th minute mark and played most of their football inside the Madagascar half.
However, Barea looked dangerous on the break, especially with the space behind Tunisia’s backline.
Then, soon after going a man down as a result of Wajdi Kechrida seeing red in the 89th minute, Ali Al-Abdi managed to put his side ahead in the 93rd minute of the match after a swift attack into the area.
With Amor Layouni creating havoc on the right wing, the attacker whipped in a ball that was met by Al-Abdi who guided the ball home with a header from close range.
Tunisia win it in the last minutes to qualify for Afcon 2025.pic.twitter.com/SLUWLucEd0
— Duncan 🦅 (@duncangutse) November 14, 2024
Madagascar: (1) 3 (Memmiche 20’ OG, Amada 45+3’, Ali-Abdi 93’)
Tunisia: (1) 2 (Rafia 6’, Ltaief 39’)
Madagascar: Gardies, Rabemanantsoa, Fontaine, Tremoulet, Morgan (Caddie 88’), Ilaimaharitra, Amada (Randrianantenaina 94’), N’zi (Lalaina 78’), Rakotoharimalala (Raheriniaina 46’), Raveloson, Ponti (Randriatsiferana 79’)
Tunisia: Memmiche (Dahmen 46’), Abdi, Talbi, Meriah, Kechrida, Laidouni, Skhiri (Mejbri 64’), Ltaief (Malek 76’), Haj Mohamed (Layouni 46’), Rafia (Romdhane 64’), Mestouri
