Tunisia scored late in each half to beat South Africa 2-0 in a bad-tempered friendly international in Tunis on Wednesday.
Najeh Brahem put the Carthage Eagles ahead in the 43rd minute at a sparsely populated El-Menzah Stadium and Karim Hagui added the second two minutes from full-time.
South Africa finished with nine men after defenders Saul Molapo and Tony Coyle were sent off within seven minutes as a lifeless second half drew to a close.
Substitute Molapo was shown a red card for a cynical tackle from behind on Germany-based Brahem, who retired injured soon after, while Coyle got his marching orders for two cautions.
The result completed a disastrous first tour of North Africa by Bafana Bafana, who lost 2-1 in Egypt on Saturday after conceding a stoppage time goal.
Tunisia host the biennial African Nations Cup from January 24 to February 14 and 1996 champions South Africa are among the 16 contenders for the trophy won by Cameroon in Mali last year.
Even with 11 players, South Africa were outplayed by a Tunisian team winning for the fifth time in 10 matches under French coach
Roger Lemerre since he took charge a year ago.
There were four draws and Japan won in Tunis last month.
The Eagles, one of the most powerful African football countries never to win the Nations Cup, were quicker and sharper than opponents who were led for the first time by Portugal-based striker Benni McCarthy.
A long standing aerial weakness of South Africa goalkeeper Andre Arendse was exposed in the early stages as he failed to cut off the first of six Tunisian corners, but the ball trickled wide.
Arendse is a good shot stopper, though, and he needed to be when turning a sizzling drive from Adel Chedli away at the expense of a corner on a perfect evening for football in the Tunisian capital.
McCarthy fired a shot into the side netting at the other end in a rare South African attack before Tunisia had a legitimate penalty appeal rejected when Mbulelo Mabizela appeared to hold and push Riadh Bouazizi.
Arendse sprinted out of his penalty area to clear the ball after the Bafana Bafana offside trap was sprung and opposite number Ali Boumnijel did well to push away a snap McCarthy shot before Tunisia took the lead.
Disappointing South African midfielder Delron Buckley carelessly conceded possession deep in Tunisian territory and a swift break ended with Ziad Jaziri passing to Brahem, who calmly scored with a low, right-foot shot.
Mehdi Nafti rattled the South African crossbar early in a second half that saw South Africa coach Ephraim ”Shakes” Mashaba make numerous changes without halting the Tunisian dominance.
And Bafana Bafana were resigned to defeat when the ball broke loose to Hagui well outside the penalty area and he unleashed an unstoppable drive that flew above Arendse into the roof of the net. — Sapa-AFP