Tunisia has officially joined the elite ranks of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations knockout stage after securing a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Tanzania on Tuesday evening. This crucial point at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium confirms the Carthage Eagles as the second team from Group C to advance, following closely behind table-toppers Nigeria.
Sami Trabelsi’s side finishes the opening round with four points, a tally built on their initial 2-0 triumph over Uganda and a resilient, though ultimately unsuccessful, showing in their 3-2 thriller against the Super Eagles last weekend.
The North African giants seized the initiative late in the first half when a VAR intervention identified a foul on Hazem Mastouri inside the penalty area. Ismaël Gharbi clinicaly dispatched the resulting spot-kick in the 43rd minute, driving the ball into the bottom corner to give Tunisia a vital halftime advantage. However, the lead proved short-lived as Tanzania emerged from the interval with renewed aggression.
Only three minutes into the second period, Feisal Salum unleashed a powerful low strike from outside the box that beat goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen to level the score and ignite a frantic second half.
The shared points ensure that Tunisia secures the runner-up position in Group C, successfully navigating a challenging pool that saw Uganda’s elimination earlier in the day. The Carthage Eagles now prepare for a high-stakes Round of 16 encounter against Mali, the runners-up from Group A, scheduled for Saturday evening in Casablanca. Tunisia’s progression marks their continued consistency on the continental stage, though the technical crew will likely address the defensive lapses that allowed Tanzania back into the contest before facing a potent Malian attack.
With the conclusion of Tuesday’s fixtures, seven nations have now cemented their places in the elimination bracket. Tunisia joins a formidable lineup of qualifiers including hosts Morocco, Nigeria, Algeria, South Africa, Egypt, and Mali. As the tournament shifts into its knockout phase, the Carthage Eagles remain a formidable contender, hoping to replicate their 2004 championship success.
Fans await the remaining results from Groups D, E, and F to finalize the tournament bracket as the quest for African football supremacy intensifies across Morocco.
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