Equatorial Guinea reach semi-finals after late penalty enrages Tunisia
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Version 0 of 1. The hosts, Equatorial Guinea, benefited from a hotly disputed penalty in the last minute of normal time to go on and beat Tunisia 2-1 in extra time in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals. The Mauritian referee, Rajindraparsad Seechurn, ruled Ivan Bolado was fouled in the 90th minute with Equatorial Guinea trailing 1-0 and on the way out of the tournament. Seechurn’s highly contentious decision sparked fury from Tunisian players and the coaching staff on the sidelines. There were ugly confrontations between both camps near the dugouts and riot police even moved in to restore order. Javier Balboa scored from the spot-kick deep in stoppage time and curled in a brilliant free-kick in the first half of extra time to send Equatorial Guinea into the semi-finals for the first time. At the final whistle there was more trouble when the sides clashed again near the dugouts. Seechurn was surrounded by furious Tunisian players and then chased by them across the field and down the tunnel as riot police and yellow-jacketed security officials tried to escort him away safely. Equatorial Guinea will play the winner of Sunday’s quarter-final between Ghana and Guinea. |