Two goals in each half from Knowledge Musona and Tendai Ndoro were not enough to help Zimbabwe senior men’s football team, the Warriors, as they lost 4-2 to Tunisa in their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Group B final match on Monday night at Stade de l'Amitie. 

In the wake of their second loss in the group, Zimbabwe are placed at the bottom of the group with one point from one draw and two losses, and will now exit the biennial tournament.

Tunisia showed a bright start, but it was the Warriors who came close to finding the back of the net when Nyasha Mushekwi failed to connect with a brilliant pass from Musona's cross in the fifth minute.

Looking at the North Africans, Naim Sliti, Youssef Msakni, Yasssine Khenissi all scored as Tunisia started brightly.

The impressive Knowledge Musona pulled a goal back for the Zimbabweans with a fine strike but Henryk Kasperczak’s side increased their lead a few minutes later through Sunderland’s Wahbi Khazri’s penalty to make it 4-2 at the break.

With three minutes into the second stanza, Musona took a great initiative with a long drive on the right edge of the box, but he saw his effort narrowly missing the far corner. 

Zimbabwe, playing in their first Cup of Nations since 2006, brought on Tendai Ndoro at the break and the substitute made an instant impact by reducing their deficit.

Khama Billit showed bravery when he made a brilliant run from the centre to lay the ball for Ndoro in the box, who easily finished for 4-2.

But the Tunisians never looked like crumbling and coasted to victory to set up a last eight clash with Burkina Faso on Saturday.

PLAYER RATINGS

ZIMBABWE: Mkuruva 5, Mushewki 5, Musona 7, Biliat 6, Phiri 4, Katsande 5, Nakamba 5, Nhamoinesu 3, Zvirekwi 5, Muroiwa 5, Bhasera 5. Subs: Ndoro 7, Mahachi 5.

TUNISIA: Jeridi 6, Naguez 6, Abdennour 6, Ben Youssef 6, Maaloul 6, Sassi 5, Ben Amor 6, Sliti 7, Khazri 6, Msekni 7, Khenissi 8. Subs: Lahmar 5, Khalifa 5, Azouzi 5.