Tunisia booked their place in the final of the African Nations Cup here 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 semi-final in Sousse later in the day.
It will be Tunisia's third final having finished runners-up in 1965 and
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 coach Roger Lemerre sprung a surprise by leaving Paris Saint Germain playmaker Selim Benachour, in favour of Adel Chadli, while Anis Ayari was ruled out with a shoulder injury.
His misfortune gave Jose Clayton a rare start.
Nigeria fielded the same team that started the quarter-final win over Cameroon.
Even before a ball was kicked, there was controversy as the organisers played the wrong national anthem for the Nigerian team which, ironically, was still jeered by the 60,000 Tunisian crowd.
It wasn't until the 18th minute that the first clear chance presented itself and it fell to Tunisian top scorer Silva dos Santos who cut inside Yobo only to see his shot comfortably gathered by goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.
Oluwaseyi Olofinjana became the first player booked, for a foul on Zied Jaziri, as the Nigerians struggled to control midfield and keep a check on the lively Tunisian frontmen.
Santos had another golden opportunity in the 40th minute when he got goalside of the labouring Yobo but could only snatch at his shot and the Brazilian-born striker put the ball wide of the far post.
Tunisian skipper Badra was then booked for a foul on Nwankwo Kanu while Okocha too found himself in Benin referee Coffi Codija's book for a foul on Karim Hagui.
The second half began in bizarre circumstances when the organisers finally found the correct Nigerian national anthem and played it against another backdrop of catcalls and whistles.
On the field, Riadh Bouazizi had his name taken for a foul on Okocha as Tunisia continued to press in the early stages of the second period.
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.
However, Okocha held his nerve to find the net with his second attempt which he coolly slotted into the left hand corner for his third goal of the tournament.
Osaze Odemwingie was then booked as Tunisia continued to search for the equaliser and ten minutes from the end they were handed a lifeline when Olofinjana brought down Jaziri and Badra stepped up to score from the penalty spot to deservedly bring his side level.
Nigeria were rattled and Kanu, struggling with a thigh strain, was replaced by Pius Ikedia while Benachour was also introduced.
John Utaka tried to give his side hope with a drive which was parried by Boumnijel while Enyeama caught a Bouazizi long range effort in injury time.
In the first half of extra-time Odemwingie brought out a good save from Boumnijel while Utaka was denied by the keeper at the start of the second extra period.
Odemwingie then had a chance to settle it but again Boumnijel saved his side with a smart stop as the match headed for the shoot-out.