TUNIS, Feb 11: Tunisia booked their place in the final of the African Nations Cup on Wednesday when a dramatic penalty shoot-out gave them victory over Nigeria after the sides had been locked at 1-1 after extra-time.

In the final, they will take on either Mali or Morocco who were playing their semifinal in Sousse later in the day. Tunisia won the shoot-out 5-3 with Nigeria's Osaze Odemwingie the unlucky man having his kick saved by Ali Boumnijel while skipper Khaled Badra, Silva dos Santos, Imed Mhedhebi, Selim Benachour and Karim Hagui, with the last kick, were all successful.

John Utaka, Joseph Yobo and Ifeanyi Udeze had been successful for the Super Eagles who were denied a chance to reach a seventh final. Earlier, ice-cool captains Jay Jay Okocha and Khaled Badra had both converted second half penalties in the 67th and 82nd minutes respectively to set up the dramatic finish. Okocha had to remain the coolest after he was ordered to re-take his spot-kick.

Tunisia piled on the pressure but conceded a penalty in the 67th minute when Kanu sprinted into the area and was brought down by Hagui. Okocha scored into Boumnijel's right hand corner but the referee ordered it to be retaken. -Reuters