Roger Lemerre finally got revenge for the most embarrassing day of his career on Saturday when he guided his Tunisia team to a bad-tempered 1-0 win over Senegal and into the semifinals of the African Nations Cup.
It was the Lions of Terenga who defeated his world champions France 1-0 in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup with a victory that sent shockwaves throughout the sport.
But on Saturday, it was Lemerre who was left smiling as the host nation kicked off a night of celebrations after Jawhar Mnari scored the only goal of the game in the 65th minute in front of 60 000 people at the Rades Stadium.
In Wednesday’s semifinal, they will take on either defending champions Cameroon or Nigeria. However, the win was overshadowed by controversy over the winning goal.
”The match was decided on an error by the referee,” said Senegal coach Guy Stephan.
Senegal, runners-up two years ago, claimed that El Hadji Diouf had been fouled by Mehdi Nafti before the goal was scored. But United Arab Emirates referee Ali Bujsaim waved play on and Nafti found Ziad Jaziri, whose overhead cross fell for Mnari to power a downward header past Tony Sylva in the Senegal goal.
Play was held up for five minutes as Senegal officials came on to the pitch to protest the goal and, at the end of the match, 10 minutes of injury time was played.
”We had confidence in the Confederation of African Football choosing a neutral referee but the images are clear, there was a mistake,” said Stephan.
Tunisia coach Roger Lemerre tried to calm the waters.
”It was a wild match in the 20 last minutes,” said the Frenchman. ”I won’t accuse anyone. Everyone is responsible when there is trouble and to officiate is not easy. You need courage and the referee made his decisions from his soul and conscience.”
Earlier in the day, a terrible blunder by Guinea goalkeeper Kemoko Camara allowed Mali captain Mahamadou Diarra to score a dramatic injury-time winner to give his side a 2-1 win and a place in the semifinals.
Camara fumbled Diarra’s long-distance drive and allowed the ball to slip beneath his body and into the net.
The win gives Mali, who had to fight back from a goal down, a semifinal place for the fourth time in four appearances and their second in succession.
Pascal Feindounou had given Guinea a 14th minute lead before Frederic Kanoute hit a first-half injury-time equaliser.
Mali coach Henri Stambouli was full of praise for Tottenham striker Kanoute who has now joined Cameroon’s Patrick Mboma as joint top scorer at the tournament with four goals.
”Once again Kanoute found the goal just at the right time for us on the stroke of half-time and that gave us great confidence,” said Stambouli.
”He made lots of good things happen for us. But it was a difficult game against a very strong Guinea team.”
Guinea coach Michel Dussuyer was a devastated figure and so was his goalkeeper who sat slumped against the foot of his post as Mali players celebrated.
”I am very disappointed. We paid the price for missing so many chances,” said Dussuyer. We knew at the start that Mali were a great team. They confirmed it today.” — Sapa-AFP