Togo last team to reach African Cup quarters
RUSTENBURG, South Africa (AP) — Togo survived a controversy-filled match against Tunisia to become the last team to advance to the African Cup of Nations quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Didier Drogba returned to Ivory Coast's lineup and helped the tournament favorite rally for a 2-2 draw against already-eliminated Algeria.
Emmanuel Adebayor's Togo held on for 1-1 with Tunisia to advance past the group stage for the first time in eight appearances. Tunisia, which needed the win to move on, missed a potentially game-winning penalty kick in the second half.
Togo will stay in Nelspruit to face Burkina Faso on Sunday in the quarterfinals, which will be highlighted by the match between Ivory Coast and two-time champion Nigeria on the same day in Rustenburg. Host South Africa will play Mali on Saturday in Durban, while Ghana will face newcomer Cape Verde in Port Elizabeth that same day.
South African referee Daniel Bennett drew attention to himself in the match between Togo and Tunisia, awarding two contentious penalties to Tunisia and turning down several others for both teams.
Serge Gakpe scored the opener for Togo in the 13th minute and Tunisia's Khaled Mouelhi converted the first spot kick to equalize in the 30th, but he hit the upright with the second as the goalkeeper dived the other way.
Togo coach Didier Six and his players were furious with the penalties awarded to Tunisia and complained of allegedly missed calls for them.
"I think the referee was not seeing our penalties," said Adebayor, one of three players given a yellow card for complaining. "Today was not his best day. What do you want me to tell you? He had a bad day, but fortunately we found a way out and we're just happy that we're still in (the tournament)."
There was little controversy in Rustenburg, where there was little to be decided between Ivory Coast and Algeria.
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