Ghana held Tunisia to a 2-2 draw at the 7 November of Rad?s stadium in Tunisia yesterday. However, Tunisia qualified 8-7 on a penalty shooout. This was Ghana's first game in the four nations tournoi.
Ghana has not played Tunisia since December 22 1999. Of their twelve previous encounters, Ghana has won seven and Tunisia 3.
The new Tunisian coach, Roger Lemerre, chose a 4-4-2 formation. Ghana opened the score through Charles Amoah in the 45th minute of the game.
Imed Mhedhbi equalized for Tunisia in the early part of the second half, but Amoah restored Ghana's lead a minute after that.
Tunisia started to attack, after the Ghanaians were reduced to ten men, after the expulsion of Yakoubu (two yellow ones). Hatem Trabelsi, the Tunisian new captain, started a raid from the back and gave a beautiful pass to Nabil Missaoui, who did not find any difficulty to register his first goal under the national colors and put the two teams on equal terms.
Black stars finished the game with nine men, after a second exclusion. In spite of the numerical inferiority, the stars were able to repulse all the Tunisian attacks.
In the penalty shoot out, Tunisia converted 8 out of 8 against seven to Ghana. Tunisia thus qualified for the finals. The North Africans will Cameroon who beat Madagascar 2-0. Ghana will meet Madagascar for third place
Ghana:
Tunisie : Boumnijel, Trabelsi(cap), Clyaton (Ayari), Jaidi, Zouaghi, Bouazizi, Nafti, Melki (Jedidi), Benachour, Missaoui (B.Khaled), Mhedhbi (Mouelhi).