Ferjani Sassi converted the final penalty that gave Tunisia a 5-4 win after Ghana’s substitute Caleb Ekuban had been the only player not to put away his kick.

Ekuban’s effort was saved by Tunisia’s Farouk Ben Mustapha, who had been brought on for a singularly unhappy Mouez Hassan before the shootout got under way.

Defender Rami Bedoui, brought on with two minutes remaining in order to help Ghana maintain the 73rd-minute lead given to them by Taha Khenissi, had the opposite effect as he headed past his own keeper in the first minute of additional time.

Until that moment of drama, Ghana – who last won this trophy in 1982 – had appeared set for a meeting with Ivory Coast, who had beaten Mali earlier in the evening through a goal from Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha.

Two minutes before halftime, Ghana had an Andre Ayew effort controversially ruled out when the referee signalled a free-kick for a handball in the build-up, apparently by Thomas Partey, although replays showed the ball had come off his chest.

The video assistant referee is not due to be utilised in this tournament until the quarter-final stage.

When Khenissi scored, it appeared as if this apparent unlucky break would not prove crucial but the 91st minute proved otherwise.

Zaha’s decisive goal in the earlier match had come with 14 minutes remaining.

After his side had struggled to create chances at Suez Stadium for most of the first half, Zaha broke the deadlock when he beat Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra to the ball after a free-kick and made no mistake with a finish that has earned his side a match in the last eight against Algeria on Thursday.

Ivory Coast have won this competition twice – in 1992 and 2015 – but only advanced through this year's opening phase as runners-up after losing 1-0 to group winners Morocco.