Tunisia and Cape Verde began their African Nations Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw in Group B.
Tunisia, the 2004 champions, went ahead through Mohamed Ali Moncer in the 70th minute but Nhuck Heldon earned Cape Verde a point with a penalty 13 minutes from time.
Cape Verde should have opened the scoring inside the first minute when Fernando Varela found himself all alone in the centre of the area to meet Elvis Babanco's free-kick only to head the ball against the post.
Tunisia responded and forged their first chance in the 15th minute, Saber Khelifa heading a free-kick towards goal that was pushed away by Josimar Vozinha.
Cape Verde possessed the greater goal threat, though, and Aymen Mathlouthi in the Tunisia goal was called upon to push Jailton Kuca's 20-yard effort around the post.
They had a golden chance on the half-hour mark as Heldon broke away down the right and squared the ball for Jorge Djaniny, who could only shoot tamely at Mathlouthi from 12 yards out.
Referee Eric Otogo-Castane did superbly to spot that Ali Maaloul's foul on Heldon in the 38th minute was just outside the box with Cape Verde appealing for a penalty.
It almost resulted in a goal anyway as Tunisia failed to deal with Babanco's free-kick but Kuca poked his shot wide.
Kuca came close again 11 minutes into the second half as Cape Verde put together another incisive move.
Heldon's pass from right to left was dummied by Babanco, leaving Kuca to run into the box.
He cut inside and beat the keeper but Syam Ben Youssef was in the right place to clear the ball off the line.
At the other end, Ben Youssef thought he had put Tunisia ahead when he bundled the ball over the line after Yassine Chikhaoui had headed against the bar but the defender was penalised for a debatable foul on Vozinha.
Suddenly all the pressure was coming from Tunisia and they got their reward with 20 minutes remaining.
Jamelle Saihi played in Maaloul on the left and his precision ball across the six-yard line was tucked away decisively by Ali Moncer.
But Tunisia's lead lasted only seven minutes as Heldon tucked away a penalty he won.
There were question marks over whether Ben Youssef's challenge was in the box and how much contact was made but referee Otogo-Castane pointed to the spot.
Tunisia had a chance to win the game right at the end but Wahbi Khazri's shot was wastefully wide.
