Libya had never won in Tunisia. They have now — and they did it in a North African derby, in Sfax, to leave the Carthage Eagles bottom of their AFCON 2027 qualifying group and still searching for a first win.
Ali Youssef's penalty just before half-time and Hamdou Elhouni's counter-attack finish just after the hour gave Youssouph Dabo's side a 2-0 victory that will be talked about in Tripoli for years. For Tunisia, champions in 2004 and ever-presents at the finals for 17 straight tournaments, this was a night that turned ugly on and off the pitch, as AfricaSoccer reported from Sfax.
A penalty, a disallowed goal and a sucker punch
Tunisia had the ball, the crowd and the early pressure. They appealed in vain for a handball penalty on 27 minutes, and on 34 minutes Seifeddine Jaziri met a cross with real power, only for Libya goalkeeper Ayman Al-Tihar to turn it behind.
The game turned a minute before the break. Veteran left-back Ali Maaloul pulled down Muad Eisay, the referee pointed to the spot, and defender Ali Youssef converted the penalty to silence the Taieb Mhiri Stadium.
Tunisia thought they had levelled on 58 minutes when Ben Slimane turned the ball in, but the flag went up for a disputed offside. Four minutes later the derby was decided: Saif Jaddour sent Hamdou Elhouni clear on the break and the winger smashed the ball past Ayman Dahman for 2-0. Elhouni celebrated by showing his shirt to the home supporters, who answered with bottles and flares, and referee Hamza El Fariq was escorted from the stadium as a precaution at full-time. Elhouni's night ended early, forced off injured on 81 minutes, but the damage was already done.
Bottom of the group, and the return comes fast
The numbers are stark. Libya climb to four points, level with Uganda at the top of Group H, and this was their first win of the campaign. Tunisia stay on two points from three games — draws with Uganda and Botswana, now a home defeat — and sit bottom of a group that offers only one qualifying place. Sportsguard underlined the history: Libya, whose finest hour remains the 1982 final and who last reached the finals in 2012, had never beaten Tunisia on Tunisian soil before Friday.
It was that kind of night across the continent, with big names made to fight for every point — Nigeria needed a substitute's brace to see off Tanzania, just as Senegal had to recover to beat Sudan earlier in the round. The difference is that Nigeria and Senegal won. Tunisia did not, and coach Mouine Chaabani admitted afterwards that his side had let their people down.
The two teams meet again on Tuesday, November 17, in Libya, and Chaabani's position will dominate the build-up. Lose there as well and Tunisia's route to Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda next summer starts to look close to closed with two rounds still to play.
Beyond the Final Whistle: This is the result of the round. A first-ever win on Tunisian soil is not a fluke built on one penalty — Libya survived the pressure, struck on the break and defended their lead like a team that believed. Tunisia, by contrast, look like a side waiting for something to save them. Unless Chaabani finds a response in Tripoli on Tuesday, the unthinkable — Tunisia missing an AFCON — becomes a genuine conversation.
Libya fans, is this the start of a real qualifying push? And Tunisia fans — should Chaabani survive until Tuesday? Have your say below.
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