"Enyeama was brilliant to get us back into the game after we lost two kicks and has now proved critics wrong who say he is not good at stopping penalties," Eguavoen.

Nigeria beat Tunisia 6-5 on penalties to qualify for the semi-finals after both fulltime and extra time ended in a 1-1 draw.

Tunisia ousted Nigeria from the 2004 African Cup semi-finals in a penalty shootout on their way to clinch the title.

"The game could have gone either way today, as it did in Tunisia two years ago. In football, just as in anything in life you need a bit of luck and today we got it," he added.

Tunisia boss Roger Lemerre agreed with his Nigeria opposite number, stating that his side was the unlucky party on this occasion.

"Penalty kicks are always a kind of lottery. In 2004, we were lucky and now Nigeria got the luck. We accept our defeat," said the Frenchman.

Lemerre, whose side qualified to the 2006 World Cup finals, said that Tunisia will make good use of the lesson they learnt in Egypt.

"However, we have gained a lot from this tournament and hope to put some of these lessons to good use at the World Cup in Germany," he said.