Tunisia stun Morocco, hosts off to flying start

By Peter Auf der Heyde Jan 23, 2012, 21:17 GMT

Libreville, Gabon - Morocco on Monday became the second favourite to slump to a defeat in their opening Africa Cup of Nations game as they were beaten 2-1 by Tunisia.

Earlier Monday, an impressive Gabon side beat Niger 2-0 in the other group C game through first-half goals by Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Stephane Nguema.

In the later game, Saber Khelifa and second-half substitute Youssef Msakni scored the goals for Tunisia, while Houcine Kharjah pulled one back for Morocco.

Moroccan coach Eric Gerets said that it had been a difficult match. 'We did not play against a third rate team, we played against a very good team.

'Our second match against Gabon will be a real test for us and there will be a lot of pressure on us to do well.'

Disappointingly, all but about 6,000 of the fans that had filled the 40,000-seat Stade de l'Amitie for the opening game had left by the time the north African derby between the two group favorites started.

Morocco, who are considered one of the overall favorites to lift the title at the January 21 - February 12 finals, dominated the opening spell, but failed to make much of their chances.

Instead, it was the Tunisians who went ahead in the 34th minute rather fortuitously as Khaled Korbi's free kick floated over the wall. Khelifa claimed the goal as his as he went up for a header.

In the second half, it was again Tunisia who made the most of their chances as Msakni scored his first goal for his country, going into the Moroccan area before finding the back of the net in the 76th minute.

Morocco pulled one back four minutes from the end through Kharjah's header, but they then simply ran out of time to find an equalizer.

Hanover defender Karim Haggui, who captains Tunisia, admitted that Morocco had had their fair bit of chances. 'We played well and made good use of our chances, but the Moroccans had plenty of opportunities in the first half,' he said.

Earlier in the competition Senegal, who are also considered one of the favorites, lost 2-1 against Zambia.

In Monday's opening game the home side were the better side and could well have won by a much higher score, had it not been for some brilliant saves from Niger goalkeeper Kassaly Daouda.

Daouda, who plays his club football for Cameroon team Cotonsport Garoua, bravely dived at the feet of Aubameyang in the 19th minute to deny the Saint-Etienne striker.

He was, however, at fault on the half hour as he came off the line to intercept Nguema's cross, but failed to connect and allowed Aubameyang a free header.

The 22-year-old Aubameyang, whose father Pierre was in the Gabon squad at the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996, was also involved in the second goal as his header from a Charly Moussono cross was blocked by Daouda, but Nguema was on hand to push the ball over the line just before the break.

There were fewer chances in the second half, as the heat took its toll on the players.

Gabon's German coach Gernot Rohr said that it had been very important for his side to get off to a winning start. 'There was a lot of pressure on us and I am very happy that we managed to deliver.

'We failed to convert our chances in the games leading up to our opening match and it was a huge relief when we scored the first. I think our next two games will be more difficult, but we have three points in the bag.'