Africa still remain winless at the 2022 FIFA World Cup after Tunisia and Denmark playout a 0-0 draw in their opening match of the tournament on Tuesday afternoon.
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The Carthage Eagles and the Danes kicked off proceedings in Group D as the two sides stepped into an energetic Education City Stadium.
Despite Denmark entering the tournament 10th in the FIFA World Rankings, it was the North African giants who imposed themselves in the early stages of the match.
Jalel Kadri's charges started the game with intensity and aggression, which their Scandinavian counterparts struggled to come to grips with.
The 2004 Africa Cup of Nations winners seemed the most threatening team early on in the match, with Tunisia even finding the back of the net in the 22nd minute courtesy of Issam Jebali, but the goal was ruled out after it was deemed that the marksman had strayed offside.
Shortly before half-time it was Jebali once again who caused problems for the Danish defence when the 30-year-old forced a spectacular save out of Kasper Schmeichel, with the OGC Nice goalkeeper ensuring that matters remained level going into the interval.
The second half started in the same way the first half went, with Denmark controlling much of the possession but Tunisia the team providing the most attacking threat.
That was until Andreas Olsen found the back of the net in the 56th minute, but like Jebali's before it, it was ruled out for offside.
From that moment, on it seemed that the Danish Dynamite were beginning to combine their controlled possession with clinical passing in their opponents' final third.
Manchester United playmaker Christian Eriksen stung the hands of the opposition goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen in the 63rd minute with a powerful shot that came from the edge of the box. From the resulting corner, the 1992 European champions were handed a gilt-edged chance to open the scoring but Andreas Cornelius hit the post from point-blank range.
That would be as close as either side came to finding the back of the net as the global showpiece witnessed its first 0-0 of the tournament.
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This is also the first time the north Africans have not lost an opening match of a FIFA World Cup campaign since 1978, and it is the first time Denmark failed to win their opening group match at a World Cup since the 2010 edition.
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