Tunisia Joins the Last 16 as AFCON 2025 Group Stage Draws to a Close

At least seven teams have now booked their spots in the Round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with Tunisia the latest to progress following a 1–1 draw with Tanzania in their final Group C fixture on Tuesday evening.

The Carthage Eagles had started the tournament strongly, defeating Uganda 2–0 in their opener, before narrowly losing 3–2 to Nigeria in their second match. Against the Cranes, Tunisia looked poised to seal top spot when Ismael Gharbi converted a penalty just before halftime. However, Tanzania quickly responded three minutes after the restart, with Feisal Salum leveling the score and ensuring a tense finish.

With the draw, Tunisia will finish as runners-up behind a dominant Nigeria side and will join teams such as Algeria, South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, and Mali in the knockout stages.

Opinion: Tunisia’s progression reflects a team that has shown both resilience and attacking flair, even if they have occasionally faltered in crucial moments. While finishing second in the group might not have been their ideal outcome, their ability to bounce back after setbacks suggests they could be one of the dark horses in the tournament. Fans can look forward to seeing how coach Jalel Kadri’s tactical acumen will play out against stronger opposition in the next round.