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As far as semifinals go, this was a total page-turner!
It certainly had all the thrilling plot points one would expect from a clash of its magnitude - penalty kicks awarded at both ends of the pitch, penalties missed at both ends of the pitch, a contentious VAR decision, and an unfortunate own goal decider. This game had it all!
The two sides sit atop the CAF rankings, and the matchup absolutely delivered on expectations, however, it is Aliou Cisse and his men who march on to face Algeria in the AFCON 2019 final.
The Teranga Lions of Senegal commanded the first 45 minutes, with wave after wave of attack soaked up and repelled by the dogged Tunisian defence (and the crossbar).
However, the Carthage Eagles improved in the second half and were rewarded for their efforts when Kalidou Koulibaly handled the ball in his box. The resulting spot-kick was fluffed rather comically by Ferjani Sassi, as his effort lacked composure, power, and direction.
A mere four minutes later, Senegal had a spot-kick of their own. Ismaila Sarr was brought down in the Tunisian box, however, Henri Saivet's shot was saved by Mouez Hassen in goal.
The action extended into extra time, and the intrigue followed suit. 10 minutes into extra time, the Tunisians inadvertently awarded the win to the Teranga Lions, as Mouez Hassen fluffed his lines, tipping a Sadio Mane freekick onto Dylan Bronn's head for an own-goal winner.
Senegal will square off with Algeria in the final, with the continent's regional powerhouses of North and West represented in the AFCON 2019 finale.
On that note, let's try to make sense of Senegal's victory.
#3 Ferjani Sassi's tame spot-kick
In a game of this magnitude, chances are meant to be buried with the ruthlessness the occasion deserves, especially when presented on a platter. However, Tunisia's Ferjani Sassi seemingly didn't get the memo, as he wasted perhaps his side's best chance of winning the game.
Senegal's Kalidou Koulibaly was penalised after the ball hit his arm in the box. The resultant penalty miss was more Sassi fumbling than Andre Gomis saving it. The run-up was bad and the shot was very weak.
If that spot-kick had been converted, perhaps the tide would have shifted totally in favour of the Carthage Eagles, and we would have had an epic North African derby to look forward to.
#2 Contentious VAR decision
Technology is meant to make things easier, isn't it?
That was certainly the goal when FIFA finally bowed to pressure and introduced VAR technology to the beautiful game. However, this innovation has been heavily criticised in certain quarters, with sceptics saying it does more harm than good.
The debate was further galvanised with this matchup, as VAR played a very important role late on.
The referee pointed to the spot when Cheikhou Kouyate's header came of Gueye's hand, however, the VAR operators urged him to have a second look. On further inspection, it looked a penalty (to me at least), but the referee decided to scrap his earlier decision.
If Kalidou Koulibaly was penalised for a very similar scenario earlier on, then surely Gueye should have been penalised as well.
VAR is meant to make these decisions easier, but it seems human error continues to rear its ugly head. Surely, the Tunisians will feel hard-done-by.
#1 Lady luck smiles on Aliou Cisse's men
What is football without its fair share of mind-boggling results?
Aside from the training, strategising, individual skill, and mid-game tactical changes, a rub of the green is needed ever so often. It is sometimes the subtle difference between winning and losing.
The Teranga Lions of Senegal weren't at their best against the Carthage Eagles, however, Lady Luck certainly was smiling on them.
A blunder from a routine free-kick was what ultimately separated the sides, much to the dismay of the onlooking Tunisian supporters. Mouez Hassen flapped his hands unsuccessfully at a routine Sadio Mane free-kick, spilling the ball onto an oblivious Dylan Bronn for an own goal.
To top it off, the referee overturned a handball decision late in the game, to the delight of Aliou Cisse and his men.
In the immortal words of Sir Alex Ferguson: "Football, bloody hell!".
