CAIRO – 9 July 2019: During the last minute of the clash between Tunisia and Ghana on Monday night, Tunisia manager, Alan Giresse, decided to replace the team’s starting goalkeeper, Moez Hassan, to give the chance to the second choice goalkeeper, Farouk Ben Mustapha, in penalty shoot outs.
Moez was not happy with the manager’s decision and his teammate, Fergani Sassi, had to convince him to leave the pitch and give the chance to Bin Mustapha.
“What happened was unusual, and we appreciate the goalkeeper's feeling and his desire to participate, certainly a player wants to be in the pitch.” Tunisia goalkeeper's trainer Hamdi Kasraoui said following the game.
Bin Mustapha did not touch the ball as the referee blew the final whistle to send the game to penalties.
All the eyes were on Bin Mustapha especially after Moez‘s reaction but he was focused on his mission to win the game for his team.
Bin Mustapha proved his manager’s point during the shoot outs as he stopped Ghana’s third penalty and he was close to save two other penalties.
On the other hand, Tunisian players were efficient during the shootouts and converted them to goals to secure their team’s qualification to the quarter finals.
“Bringing Ben Mustapha on was a decision I had taken during the game but I didn’t know it would work.” Giresse said after the game.
Tunisia will face the tournament’s underdogs, Madagascar, on Thursday night at the quarter finals.
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