Africa Cup of Nations Day 12
Angola and Tunisia through to quarter finals after goalless draw
Senegal and South Africa's worst fears were realized as Angola and Tunisia played out a 0-0 draw to secure passage to the quarter finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Tunisia and Angola each needed just a point from their final group match and so it came as little surprise that neither side strained too hard for a win in Tamale, rendering the match between Senegal and South Africa in Kumasi academic.
There were occasional moments of quality; Angolan strikers Flávio Amado and Manucho Gonçalves set up Maurito for a long-range strike saved by Hamdi Kasraoui, while Flávio himself should have scored when played through in injury time, only to find Kasraoui again.
Tunisia were as markedly unambitious as they had been in their final World Cup match in 2006 against Ukraine, with strikers Chikhaoui and Santos starting on the bench and coach Roger Lemerre choosing to pack a five-man midfield.
Tunisia win the group on goals scored and will face Cameroon on Monday, while Angola come up against the reigning champions Egypt.
Angola's coach Luís Oliveira Gonçalves was as defensive as the game had been after the match, remarking, "We aren't here to please journalists; we are happy to advance unbeated for the first time in our history."
Angola will make a national record third consecutive appearance at the Cup of Nations in 2010, for which they qualify automatically as hosts. Following their shock qualification at Nigeria's expense for the last World Cup, it is clear that the fortunes of Angolan football are improving.
A much better game took place in Kumasi, where Elrio van Heerden and Henri Camara's first half goals should have been added to in an action-packed second half, with both sides knowing only a victory would give them any chance of progress.
Even though it became clear Tunisia-Angola was likely to end in a draw there were still plenty of chances in the latter stages, with South Africa's impressive left-winger Siphiwe Tshabalala hitting the post with a clever chip in the last minute.
Even then there was time for Senegal to waste a clear-cut chance with the last kick of the match, Babacar Gueye was played in but his left-footed strike sailed over the crossbar.
South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira will have learned a lot about the country's young players ahead of their 2010 World Cup adventure, with established strikers Siyabonga Nomvethe and Benni McCarthy set to return to strengthen their chances of success in Group A in two and a half years time.
Results
SENEGAL 1 (H. Camara 37') SOUTH AFRICA 1 (van Heerden 14')
ANGOLA 0 TUNISIA 0
Quarter Final Line-Up
GHANA v NIGERIA (Sunday)
IVORY COAST v GUINEA (Sunday)
EGYPT v ANGOLA (Monday)
TUNISIA v CAMEROON (Monday)
