FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - International Friendly - Tunisia vs Turkey - Stade de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland - June 1, 2018 Tunisia's Ferjani Sassi celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
Firas Chaouat made a dream debut in his international career, scoring a brace for Tunisia in their 2-1 win against Niger in Niamey on Tuesday to secure their qualification to next year's Africa Cup of Nations.
Experienced coach Faouzi Benzarti reshuffled his squad for the game and decided to field the 22-year-old striker instead of regular starter Taha Khenessi.
Chaouat got off to a lightening start, scoring twice in quick succession on the 28th and 32nd minutes to give the Carthage Eagles a comfortable 2-0 lead.
Youssouf Oumarou Alio pulled one back for the hosts in the 36th minute, but that was not enough to get them anything out of this game.
The victory puts Tunisia at the top of Group J with 12 points, three ahead of second placed Egypt, who also secured their Nations Cup spot, while Niger and eSwatini are left trailing at the bottom of the group with a point each.
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