The referee took center stage in a bad-tempered AFCoN quarterfinal between Tunisia and Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea stunned Tunisia by coming from behind to secure a famous, unexpected and bad tempered 2-1 victory and reach the semifinals of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Amongst a hail of atrocious tackles and off-the-ball incidents, Tunisia took the lead when Ahmed Akaichi swept home midway through the second half.
But a controversial penalty decision in injury time handed Equatorial Guinea a lifeline.
Spain-born striker Javier Balboa, who was once on Real Madrid’s books, scored and sent the game into extra time and towards an ecstatic, and violent, conclusion.
Tunisia’s players could scarcely believe what was happening. Punches were thrown behind the referee’s back as play acting ruined the game’s fluency.
