Tunisia came from behind to score twice via set-pieces and overcome Botswana with a 2-1 victory in the dying minutes as they avoided an upset in their opening Group G game of the African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Botswana stunned the home crowd at the Stade Mustapha Ben Jannet in Monastir when Joel Mogorosi pounced on a dreadful defensive blunder to open the scoring one minute before halftime.

Tunisia rallied back after the break, squandering several goal-scoring opportunities before deservedly leveling the score when a curling free-kick from Wahbi Khazri went past the stranded keeper.

The match looked as though it was heading for a draw but Yassine Chikhaoui converted a penalty one minute from time after a needless handball by a Botswana player to send the home fans into ecstasy.

Tunisia are joint leaders of the group along with Senegal, who also opened their campaign with a convincing 2-0 home victory over Egypt.

North African rivals Tunisia and Egypt meet in Cairo in their second group match on Wednesday.

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