Senegal 0 Tunisia 0
World Cup finalists Tunisia tumbled out of the African Nations Cup without scoring a goal after drawing 0-0 with Senegal today.
The north Africans, whose performances have been heavily criticised by their own coach Henri Michel, finished behind Senegal and Egypt in group D.
They are the only one of the five African countries headed to the Word Cup finals in South Korea and Japan later this year who have failed to make the last eight at the tournament in Mali.
Tunisia did have their chances against a second-string Senegal side, who rested key players having already secured their progress to the quarter-finals last week.
A penalty by French-based midfielder Slim Benachor, who made his international debut on the eve of the Nations Cup finals, was saved by Senegal's Omar Diallo in the third minute of the second half.
It had been generously awarded by Italian referee Domenico Messina after Imed Mehdhebi slipped as he tangled with Senegal defender Pape Malick Diop.
Minutes later a frantic goalmouth scramble saw Senegal twice clear off their line, first from defender Radhi Jaidi's close-range effort and then the rebound which fell to Benachour.
Tunisia had their first chance after just 37 seconds but Jamel Zabi's effort was saved and twice in the opening 15 minutes they beat the Senegal offside trap but were unable to capitalise on the breakaway.
Imed Mhedhebi should have opened the scoring in the 25th minute after a clever interchange of passes but he blasted wildly over the crossbar.
Senegal's best chance fell midway through the second half when substitute Souleymane Camara intercepted a stray back pass but his shot was spectacularly cleared off the line by Jaidi, who had chased back to scoop the ball away.
There was little for a large contingent of travelling Senegalese fans to enthuse over and the biggest cheer of the afternoon was reserved for the entrance of El Hadj Ousseynou Diouf after 66 minutes.
The Lens striker is one of the three candidates for the upcoming African Footballer of the Year award and scored for his country last year in their successful World Cup qualifying campaign.