Togo progress as Tunisia exit

Tunisia missed a penalty as Togo qualified for the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations after a 1-1 draw that was marred by a comical refereeing display.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Group D results

Algeria  2 - 2   Ivory CoastTogo     1 - 1   TunisiaTunisia missed a penalty as Togo qualified for the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations after a 1-1 draw that was marred by a comical refereeing display.Togo took the lead through a Serge Gakpe goal that looked suspiciously offside, with Tunisia equalising through a soft penalty conceded by Dare Nibombe.Both sides had clear spot-kicks waved away in the second half, and Togo’s claim would have seen Tunisia goalkeeper Moez Ben Cherifia dismissed as he clobbered last man Emmanuel Adebayor.Referee Daniel Bennett referee then controversially awarded Tunisia a penalty, also conceded by Nibombe - who had earlier been booked for someone else’s foul but not carded for either spot-kick- although Khaled Mouelhi missed that one.Nibombe will miss the quarter-finals unless Togo appeal, which in turn would see Serge Akakpo suspended, but the West Africans did not care as they rode a frantic five minutes of injury time to hang on for the draw.It was an extraordinary match by any standard, although played on a poor pitch.Needing victory due to inferior goal difference, Tunisia defended with a high line, which caused problems throughout, as Togo sat deep and looked for the break.Bennett, meanwhile, is likely to be culled for the remainder of the tournament, with Egyptian referee Ghaed Greisha having been sent home for lesser failures; fortunately this South African ref will have a shorter distance home.Agencies