Story: Zackaria Alhassan, Tamale
THE Carthage Eagles of Tunisia and the Palancas Negras of Angola secured the qualifying places in Group D for the quarter-finals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations following their goalless draw tie in Tamale yesterday.
Both teams were tied on four points before the game, and their draw meant they qualified ahead of their counterparts from Senegal and South Africa, since the outcome of their match would be inconsequential.
By virtue of their points build up in their previous two matches, both Tunisia and Angola, who finished five points apiece sailed through at the expense of the Bafana Bafana of South Africa and the Terranga Lions of Senegal who also drew 1-1 in Kumasi, leaving them with two points each.
It comes as the first qualification for the Angolans beyond the group stage after three straight campaigns ended in first round elimination.
Both Tunisia and Angola played it cautiously without any urgency of winning as they played the ball among themselves and wasted a lot of goal scoring chances.
Angola exhibited glimpses of team cohesion and individual skills but made heavy weather of their chances in both halves. With only keeper Hamdi Kasraoui to beat, their striker, Baptista Nsimba, messed up opportunities at certain points.
Nsimba, who was voted the man of the match, was truly wasteful, but equally guilty was the Tunisian danger man, Amine Chermiti, who failed to convert glorious opportunities in 15th, 19th and 43rd minutes.
Alonso Carlos of Angola took the Fair Play Player award.
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