Tunisia 4-0 Mauritania: Wahbi Khazri brace means qualification from AFCON Group F will come down to the final group stage game
- Former Sunderland striker Wahbi Khazri scored a brace in Tunisia's 4-0 victory
- Result means just one point separating first from third in AFCON Group F
- Goals from Hamza Mathlouthi and Seifeddine Jaziri rounded off the scoring
- Defeat means Mauritania crash out of the competition with no goals scored yet
Hamza Mathlouthi and Wahbi Khazri scored goals inside the opening nine minutes to set up a comfortable 4-0 victory for Tunisia over Mauritania in their Africa Cup of Nations Group F match at the Limbe Stadium on Sunday.
Khazri added another in the second half and then laid on a fourth for Seifeddine Jaziri as Tunisia were vastly improved, having lost their opener to Mali in controversial fashion when Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe erred by twice ending the game before the 90 minutes.
Tunisia, who missed a late penalty from Youssef Msakni, have three points from their opening two matches and are in third in the group behind Gambia and Mali, who have four points each. Mauritania will finish bottom after two defeats.
![Saint-Etienne striker Wahbi Khazri scored a brace to keep Tunisia's AFCON hopes alive](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/01/17/00/53006623-10409217-image-a-128_1642380558180.jpg)
Saint-Etienne striker Wahbi Khazri scored a brace to keep Tunisia's AFCON hopes alive
Tunisia now meet surprise package Gambia in their final pool match on Thursday, while Mali tackle Mauritania. The top two teams in each group advance to the second round, along with the four best third-place finishers across the six pools.
Mauritania rarely troubled their opponents and look among the poorest teams in the competition as their defence was carved open on numerous occasions.
They fell behind after four minutes when they failed to clear their defensive lines and the ball fell to Mathlouthi on the edge of the box. He crashed a first-time shot into the bottom corner of the net.
![The result means that Tunisia, Gambia and Mali all have a chance to qualify for the next round](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/01/17/00/53006625-10409217-image-a-129_1642380617982.jpg)
The result means that Tunisia, Gambia and Mali all have a chance to qualify for the next round
It was 2-0 five minutes later as the Mauritanians allowed Khazri far too much time and space and the St Etienne forward picked his spot with a low finish from 10 yards.
That score remained the same until just past the hour-mark when neat interplay between Ghailene Chaalali and Khazri led to the latter being presented with a simple side-foot finish.
Tunisia added a fourth two minutes later when Khazri turned provider, laying on an excellent through-ball for Jaziri to score.
They might have had a fifth too, but for the second time in as many games missed a penalty, this time through substitute Msakni as he struck the post after Mauritania were penalised for a handball.
![Defeat means Mauritania crash out of AFCON 2022 after losing their opening two games](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/01/17/00/53006665-10409217-image-a-131_1642380690971.jpg)
Defeat means Mauritania crash out of AFCON 2022 after losing their opening two games
Most watched Sport videos
- Giants fans burn quarterback Daniel Jones' jersey after loss
- Montenegro fans create distraction from football with fireworks
- Las Vegas Raiders fan body slams a woman during brawl
- Awkward moment footy great can't pronounce NRL player's name
- Johnny Gaudreau's wife Meredith announces she is pregnant
- Moment Miami Dolphin's Tyreek Hill is arrested by police
- Jason Kelce bares all with ex-Eagles teammate in revealing beer ad
- Shocking bodycam of Tyreek Hill arrest released by Miami-Dade PD
- Woman exposes NRL boyfriend for leaving her for another
- Ireland fans mock Queen's death aiming chants at England fans
- John Hunt makes a poignant return to the commentary box at Brighton
- Tyreek Hill speeds by police before cops aggressively pull him over