Tunisia fight back to hold Senegal

TAMALE, Ghana -- Tunisia recovered to score a stunning late goal and earn a 2-2 draw with Senegal in an African Nations Cup Group D thriller on Wednesday.

Issam Jemaa gave the 2004 champions an early lead they held until first-half stoppage time when Bayal Sall equalised and a fierce Senegalese onslaught paid dividends when Diomansy Kamara put them ahead on 66 minutes.

But the 'Teranga Lions' were punished for a host of missed chances when Majdi Traoui unleashed a superb shot that flew past motionless goalkeeper Tony Sylva seven minutes from time.

Senegal were quickest out of the starting blocks and Tunisian Radhouane Felhi almost conceded an own goal as he headed away an El-Hadji Diouf free-kick at the expense of a corner.

But after nine minutes it was the 'Carthage Eagles' who snatched the lead as Jemaa combined with Wissem Bekri before unleashing a low left-foot drive across Sylva into the far corner of the net.

It was only the second goal in 279 minutes of action between the countries whose quarterfinals clash four years ago turned into a mini-war before hosts Tunisia triumphed.

Fulham striker Diomansy Kamara, one of several English Premier League stars on parade for the 'Lions', burst through soon after only for goalkeeper Hamdi Kasraoui to dart off his line and avert the danger.

Highly rated France-based striker Mamadou Niang came tantalisingly close to levelling midway through the opening half when he turned twice before just firing wide of the far post.

Senegal equalised two minutes into stoppage time when captain Radhi Jaidi failed to clear an Ousmane Ndoye pass and Sall beat Kasraoui from close range.

Senegal also began the second half impressively and this time they sustained the pressure, squandering a host of gilt-edge chances before deservedly taking the lead.

Tunisia failed to clear the ball in a goalmouth scramble and it finally fell invitingly for Kamara, who made no mistake from close range.

After Diouf, Kamara and Niang went close and Kasraoui foiled Diouf, the goal brought relief to Henri Kasperczak, the Polish coach who has not finished lower than fourth in Nations Cup challenges with Ivory Coast, Tunisia and Mali.

But seven minutes from full-time Senegal paid dearly for not converting their chances and putting the game beyond the reach of Tunisia when Traoui brought the teams level again.

A weak clearance was picked up by Jawhar Mnari and his square pass rolled to Traoui, who unleashed a drive that flew into the net.

Meanwhile, in the other Group D match, Elrio van Heerden scored two minutes from full-time to salvage a 1-1 draw for South Africa against Angola.

Substitute Van Heerdeen latched on to a pass from Teko Modise, drifted past a defender, and fired an unstoppable shot over goalkeeper Luis 'Lama' Joao.

It was no less than 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa deserved as they won far more possession than their regional rivals only to be let down once again by poor finishing.

Manchester United-bound Mateus 'Manucho' Goncalves headed Angola into a 29th-minute advantage and then cleared the ball off the line in the closing stages when South Africa captain Aaron Mokoena thought he had equalised. E-mail to a friend