Tunisia Clinch Afcon 2015 Ticket

Tunisia progressed to the group stages of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations with a goalless draw against Botswana in Gaborone on Friday.

The solitary point from that encounter was enough to guide the ‘Carthage Eagles’ into their 17th appearance at the biennial championship, as they now top their pool with 11 points.

Botswana, who already have conceded qualification hopes, picked up their first point of the qualification campaign.

The 2004 winners join Algeria and Cape Verde who had both secured their slot for the finals rescheduled for Equatorial Guinea.

Tunisia Will Be Making Their 17th Appearance at the 2015 Afcon Finals in Equatorial Guinea. Image: Getty.
Tunisia Will Be Making Their 17th Appearance at the 2015 Afcon Finals in Equatorial Guinea. Image: Getty.

Ivory Coast kept Afcon 2015 qualification hopes alive following a 5-1 thrashing of Sierra Leone earlier on Friday. The Elephants, who are on nine points, now trail group leaders Cameroon by a point, with the Indomitable Lions up against DR Congo on Saturday.

DR Congo are third on six points, while bottom-placed Sierra Leone are out of the race with a point from five matches.

Hosts Sierra Leone entertained Herve Reinard’s men away from home in Abidjan due to the severity of the Ebola outbreak in their country. Defender Kolo Toure opened scoring for Ivory Coast but Mustapha Bangura leveled for the Leone Stars via a superb volley.

Solomon Kalou restored Cote d’Ivoire’s lead as the 2012 finalists took control of proceedings in the second half. Max-Alain Gradel poked home from close range and Gervinho grabbed Ivory Coast’s fourth to put the game beyond Sierra Leonean’s. Kalou completed his brace, slotting past the goalkeeper after a powerful run.