Wahbi Khazri had a second-half penalty stored as Tunisia fell to a contentious 1-zero loss against Mali of their Africa Cup of Nations opener in which referee Janny Sikazwe became at the centre of controversy.
Sikazwe awarded each sides a penalty within the 2nd 1/2 and brushed off Mali forward El Bilal Toure before blowing for complete-time early to spark indignant scenes at Stade Limbe. After a low-key first half that saw neither facet go specifically near, Ibrahima Kone converted beyond debutant keeper Bechir Ben Said from 12 yards after Ellyes Skhiri blocked Boubakar Kouyate's shot together with his hand.
Tunisia, the fourth-maximum ranked African side, toiled without genuinely being able to check Ibrahim Mounkoro in the Group F conflict between the edges predicted to strengthen within the top spots in advance of Gambia and Mauritania. But the 2004 match winners were given a lifeline 16 mins from time as Sikazwe again pointed to the spot whilst Khazri's pass hit Moussa Djenepo on the hand, handiest for the Saint-Etienne striker's penalty to be stored by Mounkoro.
After the referee to begin with blew for complete-time inside the 85th minute, play resumed and Mali replacement Toure became proven a directly purple card for catching Dylan Bronn, earlier than Sikazwe once more added play to a halt 10 seconds early no matter a raft of substitutions and a cooling smash.
It isn't the primary time the referee has triggered controversy as back in the 2016 Club World Cup very last between Real Madrid and Kashima Antlers, he pulled the yellow card out of his pocket to offer to Sergio Ramos. However, while he realised that the Madrid guy had already been booked, he placed it again in his pocket.
Around 30 minutes, it was decided that the game could resume with the remaining 3 minutes of the match. However, Tunisia have refused to come lower back out as they need both the game to be replayed in complete or for them to receive the victory. As a result, Tunisia have now been threatened with a 0-3 defeat instead of a 0-1 loss. That may be key if it comes to purpose distinction afterward in the tournament.
