Highlights: Tunisia is eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations after 0-0 draw with South Africa. The Carthage Eagles have only two points and fail in last place in Group E. Namibia secured its passage to the second round for the very first time in its history. Mali quietly consolidates first place in its group to ensure a more favorable future in the next round in the world international tournament. The ticket for the round of 16 is validated thanks to a presence among the best thirds.

Tunisia is eliminated and Namibia is qualified, that is the harsh law of this group E. The Eagles of Carthage showed too low a level to hope for better than a 0-0 against South Africa this…

CAN 2024: Tunisia, insufficient, packs its bags, Namibia wins historic qualification

Tunisia is eliminated and Namibia is qualified, that is the harsh law of this group E. The Eagles of Carthage showed too low a level to hope for better than a 0-0 against South Africa this Wednesday, while the Namibia wrote its history by securing another 0-0 against Mali.

Tunisian players react at the end of the Africa Cup of Nations Group E soccer match between South Africa and Tunisia in Korhogo, Ivory Coast, Wednesday, January 24, 2024. AP - Themba Hadebe

By: Yohann Le Coz Follow |

Farid Achache Follow

With our special correspondent in San Pedro,

What can we say about this match, except that Tunisia, which presented itself as a small outsider in this

CAN 2024

, is prematurely eliminated from the competition.

The Carthage Eagles, after this 0-0 against South Africa in San Pedro this Wednesday, January 24, have only two points and fail in last place in Group E.

Read alsoCAN 2024: Rankings, calendar and all results

And what can we say about this Tunisia, except that the football on offer was far too weak to hope for a ticket to the round of 16.

Whether within the framework of this meeting or throughout the tournament.

Jalel Kadri's men never looked inspired, never in these 90 minutes did they give the impression of a team that needed to score to survive.

After a completely locked, if not boring, first period, Bafana Bafana showed themselves to be much more dangerous in the second act.

Thapelo Morena took a cross well to force Béchir Ben Saïd to lie down (53rd).

Sphephelo Sithole and Teboho Mokoena in turn sent shivers through long-range shots (76th, 77th).

Before Ben Saïd is again forced to parade to save his family with a helmet strike from Evidence Makgopa.

Read alsoRelive the elimination of Tunisia commented live by our journalists

In the last six minutes, the Carthage Eagles put the pressure on, without ever getting a shot on target.

But it was too late, it was from the start of this CAN that we had to start playing.

For its part, South Africa is satisfied with second place in the group with four points.

Historic Namibia

At the Laurent Pokou Stadium in San Pedro, Éric Chelle's Mali, who had drawn

against Tunisia

on the second day, faced a team from Namibia which dreamed of reaching the second round in the event of a victory or even from zero.

An exceptional result for all the Brave warriors, entered for the fourth time in the final phase of the CAN, since the creation of the tournament.

“

We will do our best.
Namibia has no pressure.
It will be a fantastic match

,” captain Peter Shalulile, striker for Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa, had indicated the day before.

And he didn't lie, with a 0-0, the ticket for the round of 16 is validated thanks to a presence among the best thirds.

Despite the goalless draw, it should be noted that the first opportunity of this balanced meeting was Namibian.

Prins Menelik Tjiueza, served in the Malian area, crossed his shot finally deflected onto the post (16th).

The Malians responded twice with Fousseni with a powerful strike from the left (21st) and Lassine Sinayoko, served on a cross, but who did not hit his head (28th).

At the hour mark, we only had two shots on target... and that's it, for this 0-0 which suited everyone.

It is in the city which hosts the largest cocoa port in the world that Namibia celebrated its passage to the second round, for the very first time in its history.

While Mali quietly consolidates first place in its group to ensure a more favorable future in the next round.

CAN 2024: Tunisia, insufficient, packs its bags, Namibia wins historic qualification

CAN 2024: Tunisia, insufficient, packs its bags, Namibia wins historic qualification

Historic Namibia

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