South Africa vs Tunisia 0-0: Africa Cup of Nations 2023 – as it happened

It was nervy rather than thrilling at Group E came to a close.

It was not to be for Tunisia, but South Africa are on their way with Mali and Namibia as one of the best third-place finishes.

Morocco top Group F, which kicks off its final round of matches in just under an hour to complete the lineup for the knock-out stages.

It’s back to the Asian Cup for our live pages on Thursday with South Korea against Malaysia and Jordan taking on Bahrain in a simultaneous look at both matches as Group E comes to an end.

All four teams can go through.

We’ve got tennis to come as well from the Australian Open with the semifinal stages as well as the finals this weekend. We’ll also have the knock-out stages of the two big international tournaments.

Hope you enjoyed the coverage throughout the day and please do join us again soon.

For now, though – from me, Kevin Hand – it’s goodbye.

The South African attacking midfielder is awarded the Player of the Match award.

In a must-win match, the Tunisians only managed two shots on target.

It was hard to say it was a match dominated by the defences. More so, the attacks lacked the quality to carve open the back lines.

South Africa will need to improve, but they take second spot.

Tunisia go out without scoring a goal.

It’s a disastrous tournament for the North Africans.

South Africa keep alive their hope of recreating the 1996 success.

Full-time: South Africa 0-0 Tunisia

Another header for Jouini, but it goes over again.

90+4 minutes: South Africa 0-0 Tunisia

They can’t get close to goal.

Should they find one though, it changes everything.

Still goalless in the other game.

93 minutes: South Africa 0-0 Tunisia

A deep free kick for Tunisia is headed clear.

So many players are being sent forward.

90 minutes: South Africa 0-0 Tunisia

Jouini heads over from close range and unmarked.

He just couldn’t get over the ball from Ltaief’s cross from the right.

Was that the moment?

88 minutes: South Africa 0-0 Tunisia

If this remains all square, then Tunisia go out.

Can they break the deadlock?

Both sides make a host of changes for very different reasons.

84 minutes: South Africa 0-0 Tunisia

A long-range effort comes in.

It’s low and had to be saved.

Ben Said gets down low to his right and pushes the ball back into play but the off-side flag is up.

76 minutes: South Africa 0-0 Tunisia

The corner is flicked by a head in a bundle of players at the near post.

It’s straight at the keeper and punched away.

It was the head of Makgopa that drew the save.

80 minutes: South Africa 0-0 Tunisia

A drive from the midfielder is marginally wide as it goes low to the right of the keeper.

A quick follow-up just after is deflected well wide from range for a corner.

78 minutes: South Africa 0-0 Tunisia

Bafana Bafana enjoy a better spell of possession.

They win a corner but are comfortably cleared.

75 minutes: South Africa 0-0 Tunisia

The group remains as it started the match.

Tunisia will go out.

72 minutes: South Africa 0-0 Tunisia

Rafia, Jaziri and Achouri come off.

Sliti, Ltaief and Jouini come on.

70 minutes: South Africa 0-0 Tunisia

Maseko comes on.

South Africa haven’t had a shot on target yet.

But then, Tunisia have had only two.

66 minutes: South Africa 0-0 Tunisia

The cross is swung in from the left and looks as though it will set up the opener. A clearing header at the near post denies what would have been a certain goal should it have continued on it’s way.

The resulting corner is over hit.

63 minutes: South Africa 0-0 Tunisia