Minnows Rwanda give hosts a scare
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Dos Santos is mobbed by Tunisian team-mates after scoring the decisive second goal.
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RADES, Tunisia (Reuters) -- Brazilian-born striker Francileudo dos Santos gave African Nations Cup hosts Tunisia a fortunate 2-1 win over rank outsiders Rwanda in the opening game on Saturday.
Dos Santos prodded the ball home from close range following a controversially awarded free kick in the 57th minute.
Rwanda had appeared capable of forcing a draw Joao Elias, who plays in the Belgian third division, had curled in a free kick in the 32nd minute to wipe out Ziad Jaziri's opening goal.
Both teams finished with 10 men after Rwanda's Abdul Sibomana and Tunisian playmaker Slim Benachour were sent off in a four-minute spell either side of the Tunisian winner.
Tunisia will sorely miss the Paris St Germain player, who must serve an automatic suspension, as he provided their best moves.
Tunisia, who have hosted the tournament twice before but never won it, predictably attacked early on, and were given extra impetus by the inability of Rwanda goalkeeper Ramadhani Nkunzingoma to clear the ball upfield.
After a couple of early threats, they took the lead in the 27th minute when Jaziri, who plays for Turkish club Gaziantepspor, latched on to a quickly taken free kick and fired the ball into the roof of the net from close range.
But Rwanda, playing in their first finals, hit back only five minutes later when Elias scored with an exquisite free kick from the edge of the area.
As Rwanda grew in confidence, Tunisia coach Roger Lemerre appeared to be facing a repetition of his 2002 World Cup nightmare with France when his side were beaten by outsiders Senegal in their opening game.
France were knocked out in the first round and Lemerre was later sacked.
But dos Santos, who took Tunisian citizenship after playing club football in the country for Etoile Sahel, but now plays for French side Sochaux, saved his blushes.
He scored following the free kick awarded when Jaziri collapsed under a seemingly innocous challenge by a defender.
Rwanda protested and Sibomana was sent off for dissent.
Benachour was also sent off for protesting after being booked for diving.
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Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
