Santos sinks South Africa

The defending champions rarely moved out of first gear, and rarely needed to against an inexperienced Bafana Bafana line-up who tumble out of the tournament after just two group games and will hope interim coach Ted Dumitru's policy of blooding young players pays dividends when they host the 2010 World Cup.

With the hulking Radhi Jaidi rock-solid in central defence and Hatem Trabelsi back to his raiding best at right-back, Lemerre has the foundations to win a second successive African crown.

And in Santos - who drew level with Samuel Eto'o as the tournaments top scorer - a proven match-winner.

The Toulouse striker thought he had put his side in front just ten minutes in only to wheel away from his cool sidefoot finish to see the offside flag - wholly incorrectly - raised.

When he pounced just after the half hour to fire goalwards he recieved a helping hand from South Africa keeper Calvin Marlin, who let the Tunisia striker's eminently-saveable shot slip through his grasp and into the bottom corner.

But Lemerre will be concerned that for all their domination, Tunisia gave South Africa chances to get themselves back in the game.

South Africa's own match-winner, Benni McCarthy, hit a post with the scores still goalless while veteran Siyabonga Nomvethe proved a cause for concern for the Tunisian back four.

But the game swung decisively in Tunisia's favour ten minutes after the interval.

Benachour was sent tumbling by the strikingly inept Ricardo Katza for what looked a clear-cut penalty only for play to be waved on and South Africa to break, Nomvethe forcing Tunisia keeper Ali Boumnijel into a wonderful full-length stop.

It proved a game-winning save as Tunisia instantly broke forward, Trabelsi racing into space as Katza again went AWOL, pulling the ball back into the path of Benachour who rifled a crisp shot high past Marlin.

Santos could have added a third only to shoot into the side-netting from a tight angle after another defensive slip saw Adel Chedli clean through on goal, his shot parried into his team-mate's path by Marlin.

Man of the Match: Hatem Trabelsi (Tunisia)

Turning point: Benni McCarthy striking a post with the scores still goalless.

Talking point: Are Tunisia capable of repeating their 2004 triumph?