Match ends, Tunisia 0, Senegal 2.
TunisiaTunisia0SenegalSenegal2
Senegal began their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with victory over Tunisia in Group B.
Tunisia almost took the lead in the opening two minutes, but Ahmed Akaichi's header skimmed the post and he smashed a shot narrowly wide.
In between, Senegal took the lead through Sadio Mane's penalty after Cheikhou Kouyate had been hacked down.
Kara Mbodj powerfully headed in a second, and almost scored an own goal when his clearance struck the post.
Tunisia were guilty of missing plenty of chances, in particular Youssef Msakni, who headed wide from two yards out and shot straight at Abdoulaye Diallo in the second half.
Victory for Aliou Cisse's side means they top their group after Algeria's surprising 2-2 draw against Zimbabwe.
Senegal's year?
Tunisia have won the tournament once, in 2004, but Senegal have never lifted the crown. Their best performance came in 2002 when they lost on penalties to Cameroon.
This year could be a different story with a side containing Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly, West Ham's Kouyate and Everton's Idrissa Gueye in midfielder, as well as Liverpool's Mane.
Africa's most expensive player - following his £34m move from Southampton to the Reds in the summer - caused the Tunisian backline problems with his pace and coolly tucked his spot-kick into the left corner.
Senegal could have had another, but Ismaila Sarr's cross came back off the bar in the second half.
Line-ups
Tunisia
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
- 16Mathlouthi
- 21Naguez
- 2S Ben Youssef
- 3AbdennourBooked at 9mins
- 12Maâloul
- 13Sassi
- 15AzouniSubstituted forKhazriat 45'minutes
- 8Lahmar
- 23Sliti
- 7Msakni
- 9AkaichiSubstituted forKhenissiat 64'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Jridi
- 4Boughattas
- 5Kchouk
- 6Dhaouadi
- 10Khazri
- 11Khenissi
- 14Ben Amor
- 17Mathlouthi
- 18Khalil
- 19Khalifa
- 20Ali Yacoubi
- 22Ben Cherifia
Senegal
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Diallo
- 21Gassama
- 2Kara
- 3KoulibalyBooked at 41mins
- 4M'BengueBooked at 36mins
- 17B NdiayeSubstituted forSaivetat 72'minutes
- 8KouyatéSubstituted forDiopat 88'minutes
- 5Gueye
- 20KeitaSubstituted forSarrat 62'minutes
- 10Mané
- 9Diouf
Substitutes
- 6Diedhiou
- 7Sow
- 11Ndoye
- 12Diamé
- 13Konate
- 14Toure
- 15Diop
- 16K N'Diaye
- 18Sarr
- 19Ciss
- 22Saivet
- 23Ndiaye
- Referee:
- Néant Alioum
Match Stats
Home TeamTunisiaAway TeamSenegal
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away2
- Corners
- Home5
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away18
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Tunisia 0, Senegal 2.
Post update
Hamza Lahmar (Tunisia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Mame Biram Diouf (Senegal).
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Attempt missed. Taha Yassine Khenissi (Tunisia) with an attempt from very close range is too high. Assisted by Hamdi Naguez with a cross.
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Foul by Ferjani Sassi (Tunisia).
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Henri Saivet (Senegal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Ferjani Sassi (Tunisia).
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Papakouly Diop (Senegal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Tunisia. Naim Sliti tries a through ball, but Youssef Msakni is caught offside.
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Youssef Msakni (Tunisia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Idrissa Gueye (Senegal).
Substitution
Substitution, Senegal. Papakouly Diop replaces Cheikhou Kouyaté.
Post update
Foul by Wahbi Khazri (Tunisia).
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Sadio Mané (Senegal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Aymen Abdennour (Tunisia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Mame Biram Diouf (Senegal).
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Foul by Naim Sliti (Tunisia).
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Henri Saivet (Senegal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Youssef Msakni (Tunisia) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Hamza Lahmar.
