TUNIS: Tunisia's long, painful wait for a meaningful piece of soccer silverware finally came to an end here yesterday when a 2-1 win over Morocco gave them their first ever African Nations Cup title. Silva dos Santos, with his fourth goal of the tournament, gave Tunisia the lead after just five minutes with a close range header but, seven minutes from half-time, Youssef Mokhtari pulled Morocco level to also register his fourth goal of the competition.

However, Ziad Jaziri then scored what proved to be Tunisia's winner in the 52nd minute after a dreadful error by Morocco goalkeeper Khalid Fouhami who spilled a sharp drive from Jose Clayton to present Jaziri with the goal.

The victory also handed French coach Roger Lemerre his second continental crown to add to the European championship he won with France in 2000 as the Carthage Eagles finally buried the misery of two previous final defeats in 1965 and 1996.

Tunisia went into the match without captain Khaled Badra who was suspended after picking up a second yellow card in the semi-final win against Nigeria.

Ajax's Hatem Trabelsi started in his place with Paris Saint Germain midfielder Selim Benachour recalled as Jawhar Mnari dropped to the bench.

Morocco brought back defender Talal El Karkouri, who had shaken off a hamstring injury, and he replaced Mohamed Yaacoubi.

Tunisia went on the attack right from the start and were in front after just five minutes.

Clayton's fierce long-range drive was turned around the post by Fouhami.

The resulting corner was only half-cleared with the ball falling to Mehdi Nefti out on the right and his clever cross was met by Santos who darted in between two defenders to head confidently into the corner. Tunisia should have then added to their tally.

Jaziri broke away from his markers only to be denied by Fouhami while, in the 15th minute, Santos wasted a golden opportunity to make it 2-0 when he was put clear by skipper Riadh Bouzazi.

But the Brazilian-born striker could only half-hit his left-foot shot and Fouhami was able to gather.

In the 20th minute, Adel Chedli then headed over the top from Jaziri's pinpoint cross while, at the other end, Mokhtari was guilty of similar inaccuracy.

But the Morocco striker, was on target in the 38th minute for his side's equaliser.

l Tunisian supporters celebrating their country's first ever African Nations Cup title clashed with riot police and looted shops here last night.