Togo are on their way to the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals for the first time in their history after a 1-1 draw with Tunisia on the final matchday of the group stage. Togo and Tunisia entered the day level on points, but Togo had the edge in goal difference so a draw would be enough to put them through and that is what they got.
Togo vs. Tunisia: Final score 1-1, Togo through to quarterfinals for first time ever
In a match marred by ludicrous refereeing, Togo managed to earn a draw and advance to the quarterfinals.
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A fast start by Togo paid off when they went in front early through Serge Gakpe, who found the net after just 13 minutes. That lead only lasted until the half-hour mark, though, because referee Daniel Bennett awarded Tunisia a soft penalty, which Khaled Mouelhi converted to equalize.
But the soft penalty was only the start of Bennett's shenanigans. Not long after, he denied Tunisia an apparent penalty, but evened it up by denying Jonathan Ayite a penalty should of his own. But Bennett wasn't done there. He twice denied Emmanuel Adebayor penalties, the second of which was an obvious foul in the box, and showed a yellow card to the wrong player, but it got worse.
Bennett almost sent Tunisia through to the quarterfinals when he awarded a penalty to Tunisia on a dive. The referee was bailed out when the penalty shot hit the post, though, and Togo survived. They had their draw and were onto the quarterfinals.
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