The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final battle between Senegal and Tunisia ended 1-0 in favor of the Teranga Lions thanks to a 100th-minute own goal by Dylan Bronn.
But the semi-final clash at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo was marred by controversy involving the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), with match official Bamlak Tessema Weyesa initially awarding Tunisia a penalty late in extra time only for VAR to overturn his decision after being consulted.
Senegal got the first big chance to open the scoring after 25 minutes when Youssouf Sabaly saw a quality curling effort crashing off the Tunisia post with goalkeeper Mouez Hassen’s diving in vain and relieved to see the effort stay out of his goal.
Tunisia players then saw a shout for a penalty waved aside by the referee, Bamlak Tessema Weyesa from Ethiopia, in the 29th minute when forward Taha Yassine Khenissi went down in the Senegal box from a challenge by captain Cheikhou Kouyate.
Senegal then had the next two big chances to open the scoring 10 minutes before half time, first through striker M’Baye Niang who saw his first-time snap-shot on the turn sail well wide from close range in the 36th minute.
Niang’s missed opportunity was followed seconds later by Sadio Mane being sent one-on-one with Hassen, with the Liverpool star rounding the Tunisia goalkeeper only for him to send his effort from a tight angle wide despite having an open goal in front of him.
Those missed chances led to the clash remaining goalless at the half time whistle, with fans taking to social media to criticize match referee Bamlak Tessema Weyesa for his officiating of the much-anticipated semi-final clash in Cairo.
Tunisia started the second half on the upper-hand, with Taha Yassine Khenissi being put through on goal by a defense-splitting pass from Mohamed Drager only for the Carthage Eagles’ forward to fail with his attempt on the Senegal goal in the 48th minute.
It took just three more minutes for the North Africans to get another excellent chance to open the scoring in Cairo, but Ferjani Sassi saw his effort in the 50th minute get turned behind for a corner kick by Teranga Lions goalkeeper Alfred Gomis.
With Tunisia being the more decisive team in the opening stages of the second half, Senegal came close to taking the lead against the run of play after 57 minutes as Niang sent Mane through on goal only for the Liverpool forward to be denied by Carthage Eagles keeper Hassen.
Great drama then gripped the keenly contested clash from the 73rd minute when Tunisia was awarded a penalty after Senegal defender, Kalidou Koulibaly, was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area, with the Napoli mane getting booked.
But a huge sigh of relief came from the Teranga Lions players after Sassi saw a terribly taken penalty kick easily saved by Gomis.
Then it looked to be going from bad to worse for Tunisia after Dylan Bronn tripped substitute Mbaye Diagne, on for Niang, in the box and with Mane stepping down from penalty-taking duties having missed twice already at AFCON 2019, Henri Saivet stepped up for Senegal.
But the midfielder saw his own attempt from the spot pushed out for a corner kick by Tunisia keeper Hassen, making it the third penalty kick missed by Senegal from four attempts awarded to the West Africans at AFCON 2019 as the match remained a goalless and paved way for extra time.
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The deadlock was finally broken in the 100th minute when Bronn put the ball past his goalkeeper Hassen from a Saivet free-kick to put Senegal ahead.
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There was late drama as Tunisia felt they had been awarded a second penalty only for VAR to overrule the match official’s initial decision as Senegal held on to claim the win.
It will be the first time since 2002 that Senegal will reach the final, which is their second ever appearance at that stage in the competition’s history.
