Tunisia thrashed Mauritania 4-0 in their second 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Group F match at the Limbe Omnisport Stadium on Sunday.
The win took the Carthage Eagles to third place on the Group H standings with one game left, while the Mourabitounes are placed fourth on the table.
From the first whistle, Tunisia took the game to Mauritania as both teams looked for the opener, to get early momentum.
Tunisia took the lead on the fourth minute when Hamza Mathlouthi fired home an effort from a tight angle for his first goal of the competition.
The Carthage Eagles continued to dominate play and it didn’t take long for them to double their lead when Wahbi Khazri profited from a defensive to slot past Babacar Diop.
Mauritania attempted to claw their way back before half-time but it wasn’t to be as Tunisia went into the halftime break leading 2-0.
Tunisia were looking to add to their lead and they were nearly rewarded shortly after the break when Ghaylen Chaaleli sliced his effort wide of the mark.
Oumar Camara, who was working tirelessly for Mauritania, then saw his goal-bound effort blocked by Tunisian defenderHamza Mathlouthi in the 57th minute.
Midway through the half, however, the Carthage Eagles did manage to find the back of the net. Khazri capped a fine team move before stepping over a ball into the box and stroked home after being found by Ghaylene Chaalali.
Two minutes later the Carthage Eagles added their fourth when a defence splitting pass from Khazri was converted first time by Jaziri with the outside of the right boot.
It was almost five for Pirates in the 89th minute, but ussef Msakni penalty rebounded off the post after Souleymane Karamoko handled the ball in the area.
Tunisia now have three points from their opening two matches and are in third in the group behind Gambia and Mali, who have four points each.
How they lined up:
Tunisia: Bechir Ben Said, Hamza Mathlouthi, Montassar Talbi, Bilel Ifa (Omar Rekik 80), Ali Maaloul, Ellyes Skhiri, Ghaylen Chaaleli, Anis Ben Slimane (Hamza Rafia 73), Saif-Eddine Khaoui (Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane 60), Wahbi Khazri (Youssef Msakni 80), Seifeddine Jaziri (Aissa Laidouni 72)
Mauritania: Babacar Diop, Haruna Abou Demba, Yally Mohamed Dellahi, Abdoulkader Thiam, Guessouma Fofana, Almike N’Diaye (Houssen Abderrahmane 60), El Hacen Houeibib, Aly Abeid (Mouhamed Soueid 14), Idrissa Thiam, Oumar Camara (Hemeya Tanjy 60), Aboubakar Kamara (Pape Ba 46)
