Deo Gracia Bassinga’s hat-trick wasn’t enough to take his nation to the semi-final of the 2023 TotalEnergies U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as the young Carthage Eagles of Tunisia soared higher.<\/p>\n
The quarter-final clash at the Cairo International Stadium produced six goals and penalty shoot-outs to determine the winner and Africa fourth 2023 U20 FIFA World Cup participant.<\/p>\n
The suspense filled thriller produced just what fans signed up for as both teams produced in 120 minutes, before the penalty shootout gave Tunisia a world cup berth after 38 years.<\/p>\n
Congo had been the better side in the first half opening scores at the 25th minute thanks to a side foot kick by Deo Gracia Bassinga. A joy that will be short lived as Jibril Othmen will respond 12 minutes later, with a superbly executed strike for Tunisia .<\/p>\n
The game will drag on to the last minutes of the first-half with Soussou’s goal ruled out for foul on the Tunisian defender.<\/p>\n
Back into the second half with a motivated Tunisian front line out to test Maillon Makoundou. Ghaith Ouahabi header was disallowed for foul.<\/p>\n
Substitute Samy Chouchane will come to hunt Congo for their lack of seriousness at the defence with an assist from 19-year-old Adam Garreb.<\/p>\n
A short lived joy again as Bassinga again worked the magic, bringing the score line to 2-2, 10 minutes to stoppage time.<\/p>\n
The game ended on a 2-2 score in regular time, forcing the contest into prolongation.<\/p>\n
The Referee awarded an extra time penalty after consultation with VAR over a handball. Bassinga, 20, converted to register a hat-trick.<\/p>\n
His 102minute strike will seem like the match winner for Congo, but Ali Saoudi 199th goal sent the game to penalty shootout.<\/p>\n
Captain Davarel Diambomba Mouandza 7th strike for Congo went over the bar while Mohamed Aziz Abida slotted his penalty into the far right to send Tunisia to the semi-final of the competition.<\/p>\n
Tunisia will face undefeated Senegal in the semi-final on Monday while The Gambia are up against Nigeria.<\/p>\n
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