Tunisia drub warriors of Zimbabwe out of AFCON.

A poor defensive display by Zimbabwe cost them the game and their progression at Afcon 2017 following their dismal performance in a 4-2 drubbing by Tunisia in their final group stage encounter on Monday night.

The Warriors were shambolic in the opening 45 minutes and found themselves three goals down, with the Tunisian attack looking menacing at every attacking attempt.
Just ten minutes in, after heaps of pressure in the opening stages, an unnecessary corner resulted in Tunisia’s opener, Naim Sliti’s deflected shot beating Dynamos goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva.
It wasn’t long before the Eagles of Carthage had their second, as beautiful interplay between Sliti and Yousseff Msakni carved open the Zimbabwean defence as they conceded a second.
Knowledge Musona’s powerful strike on 34 minutes was The Warriors’ best chance of the game, forcing a fine save from Rami Jeridi, as Danny Phiri headed the resulting corner over the top.
Just two minutes later though, and Zimbabwe found themselves three goals down, Yassine Khenissi sliding in to convert Hamdi Nagguez’s fine pass.
There would be a glimmer of hope three minutes before the break as fine control and skill by Musona saw him blast home a consolation, yet Tunisia soon restored their three-goal advantage as Wahbi Khazri converted from the spot following Costa  Nhamoinesu’s shove in the box.
Tunisia bossed the early stages of the second period, yet Zimbabwe were first to strike: half-time substitute and Absa Premiership topscorer Tendai Ndoro was the grateful recipient after a fine run down the middle by Khama Billiat, his pass to Musona cleverly passed on to Ndoro, who slotted home to half the Tunisian’s lead.
Both Ndoro and Billiat grew in stature as the second half progressed, The Warriors determined to keep the pressure on their opponents’ defence and fight a way back into the tie.
Billiat’s ballooned effort midway through the second period summed up his side’s attacking performance however, the star-studded Zimbabwean attack failing to create any meaningful chances despite a number of threatening attacks.
The net would not bulge again in the second stanza, with Tunisia taking all three points in a 4-2 win to seal their progress to the quarter-finals, finishing second in the group behind Senegal.
Tunisia will face Group A winners Burkina Faso in their Last 8 encounter on Saturday.
Teams:
Zimbabwe XI: Mukuruva, Nhamoinesu, Phiri (Ndoro 46’), Zvirekwi, Muroiwa, Bhasera, Mushekwi, Katsande, Musona (Mahachi 89’), Nakamba, Billiat

Tunisia XI: Jeridi, Ben Youssef, Abdennour, Msakni (Khalifa 78’), Khazri (Lahmar 63’), Khenissi, Maaloul, Sassi, Ben Amor, Naguez, Sliti (Azouni 83’)