CAN 2022: Tunisia-Mauritania, woe to the defeated
Tunisian striker Naïm Sliti during the match against Mali in group F of CAN 2022. (Illustration).
© Pierre René-Worns
Text by: Ndiasse Sambe Follow
2 mins
Defeated on the first day respectively by Mali (0-1) and Gambia (0-1), Tunisia and Mauritania meet on Sunday January 16 (4 p.m. UT) in Limbe in a match where defeat is prohibited, in group F of CAN 2022.
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Coach Mondher Kebaier and striker Seifeddine Jaziri arrived with tense faces, if not very concentrated, at the pre-match press conference on Saturday January 15 at the Limbé stadium.
Nothing to do with
the incredible end of the match against Mali
, and the decision of CAF to endorse the result (0-1).
The coach Mondher Kebaier swears that the heads are turned towards Mauritania, only Mauritania, for a match which it is imperative to gain to relaunch in this
CAN
.
CAN 2022: match schedule, results and team standings
But how do you prepare for a meeting after this frustration at the end of the match against Mali, a missed penalty, 6 cases of Covid, all in the security atmosphere that reigns in Limbé?
Beyond the technical and tactical aspect, the mental approach will be just as decisive, concedes Kebaier.
“
It is true that we had a lot of difficulties and we have already mentioned it.
Now, we are not going to complain, our energy is focused on this game.
We must react, be worthy of the history of the Tunisian team and especially of our status
.
»
The speech is just as offensive with the Zamalek striker, Seifeddine Jaziri.
“
We left our families, we have to sacrifice ourselves, we are ready for this, we are aware and we have to live up to the mission
.
»
“We want to continue the competition”
On the Mauritanian side, the pressure is not palpable, even after losing the first match against the supposedly weakest team in the group, Gambia, which is playing its first AFCON.
However, coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa recognizes that his team is "
back to the wall
".
“
We are very revengeful in our heads.
We want to continue the competition.
We have to take that first step tomorrow
.
»
The Mourabitounes are necessarily at a turning point in their history at the CAN.
They who had not won a victory in three matches during their first participation in the CAN in 2019. For this African Cup, Mauritania is certainly dreaming bigger, after the decision of the president of the federation, Ahmed Yahya, to separate from his coach Corentins Martins, in office for seven years, to replace him with Gomes Da Rosa less than two months before the start of
CAN 2022
.
Between a president under pressure and a disputed coach (Mondher Kebaier), this Tunisia-Mauritania risks leaving traces after 90 minutes.
The other match of this group F will oppose Mali to Gambia at 13h UT.
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