In pouring rain, South Africa could not establish their strategy, and the greater width of tools spoke for the North Africans, who also profited again from the 'FC Santos' effect.
The striker scored early in the game, a goal that was reverted by a questionable offside decision.
South Africa exactly had one big opportunity to turn the game, when McCarthy and Zuma stripped the ball off Jaidi deep in the Tunisian half, but McCarthy only hit the goalpost.
It was McCarthy, too, who mispassed the ball to Santos who did not hesitat to fire the ball through the arms of the surprised keeper for Tunisia to take the lead.
After Ben Achours 2:0 after 58 minutes the game was practically over.