Traoui saves Tunisia in grudge game

Mejdi Traoui scored with a stunning long-distance shot late in the game to help Tunisia salvage a 2-2 draw in their grudge match against Senegal at the African Nations Cup yesterday.

Senegal looked set to take the points in the Group D game when Diomansy Kamara fired them in front midway through the second half.

Senegal had been out to avenge a 1-0 quarter-final defeat by the North Africans in the 2004 tournament when a fiery game ended with striker El Hadji Diouf - playing again yesterday - being restrained by team-mates from attacking the referee.

Tunisia stunned the West Africans when Issam Jomaa burst down the left and scored with a low shot after only nine minutes.

Senegal, who had slightly more of the play, conjured an equaliser with the last kick of the first half when Moustapha Bayal Sall drilled the ball past the previously untroubled Hamdi Kasraoui in goal.

Senegal took the initiative after half-time. Kamara fired them ahead in the 66th minute and the increasingly confident Senegal appeared to be cruising.

But with six minutes left, the ball fell to Traoui, who scored with a shot from 30 metres.

Tunisia coach Roger Lemerre walked out of the post-match conference as Senegalese journalists fought among themselves, causing bedlam in the media hall.

Other Group D match: South Africa-Angola 1-1.