- Burkina Faso scored two late goals to
beat Tunisia 2-0 and reach the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals.
Substitute Aristide Bance scored with a low
drive from a free-kick only five minutes after coming off the bench.
PrejuceNakoulma
made sure of the victory on the counter-attack, after Tunisia had thrown
everyone forward, rounding the goalkeeper 40 yards out before slotting into an
empty net.
The
Stallions will face either Morocco or Egypt in the last four on Wednesday.
It is now three wins from their three
quarter-finals appearances for Burkina Faso, who last reached this stage in
2013 when they finished as losing finalists.
For
the first time they secured a quarter-final win in normal time although until
Bance's intervention, which finally broke Tunisia's resistance, it appeared as
though extra time was to be required again.
The
Burkinabe had the clearest chances of the first half, Nakoulma firing over from
12 yards over and Bertrand Traore unlucky with a chip that hit the top of the
bar.
Tunisia's
best opportunity came from a corner headed on by TahaYassineKhenissi which
AymenAbdennour could only nod on, Mohamed Ali Yacoubi narrowly missing at the
far post.
Both
sides looked increasingly nervous after the interval and the match became
scrappy with few chances - a couple of goalmouth scrambles in the Tunisia box
typified a lack of decisiveness from both sets of players.
Bance
came on and changed that when a free-kick was rolled into his path and he
struck a precise effort into the corner.
It
sparked panic in the Tunisia team ranks despite there being 10 minutes left,
they abandoned all defensive discipline as they desperately sought an
equaliser.
Their
recklessness was punished by Nakoulma who sped away on a break and ran past
AymenMathlouthi, who had rushed far from his goal, before coolly stroking the
ball home.
Tunisia's
defeat means they have lost their past five Nations Cup quarter-finals, while
Burkina Faso remain in the hunt for a first title.
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