AFCON: Madagascar Fairytale Run Ends As Tunisia Reach Semifinals

Tunisia booked their place in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals with a 3-0 win on Thursday, ending surprise package Madagascar’s outstanding run.

Alain Giresse’s side might have expected a serious test against tournament debutants Madagascar, who topped their group ahead of Nigeria and then upset Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties in the last 16.

But Tunisia were dominant in Cairo, squandering chance after chance before Ferjani Sassi’s scruffy strike broke Madagascar’s resolve.

There was no sign of a response and instead captain Youssef Msakni soon added to Tunisia’s advantage, his goal setting up a comfortable conclusion in which Naim Sliti added a late third ahead of Sunday’s semi-final against Senegal.