Tunisia off to winning start

Host nation Tunisia began the 2004 African Cup of Nations with a 2-1 win against Rwanda in the tournament's opening game.

Dos Santos delight
Brazilian-born striker Francileudo dos Santos scored the winning goal 12 minutes into the second half, prodding the ball into the net from close range following a free-kick. Dos Santos took Tunisian citizenship after playing club football in the country for Etoile Sahel and currently plays in France with FC Sochaux Montbéliard,

Elias equaliser
Rwanda had appeared capable of forcing a draw until then, after Angolan-born midfield player Joao Elias, who plays in the Belgian third division for KV Kortrijk, had curled in a free-kick in the 32nd minute to cancel out Ziad Jaziri's opening goal for the hosts.

Two sent off
Both teams finished with ten men after Rwanda's Abdul Sibomana and Tunisian playmaker Selim Benachour – who plays for another French side, Paris Saint-Germain FC - were sent off in a four-minute spell either side of the Tunisian winner. Sibomana was shown the red card for dissent following Dos Santos's strike, while Benachour was also dismissed for the same offence having been booked for simulation.

Sunday fixtures
On Sunday, the other game in Group A takes place when DR Congo take on Guinea, while in Group C Zimbabwe face Egypt and Cameroon play Algeria.