CAN 2022: Tunisia put to the test of regularity
Tunisia captain Youssef Msakni (center) has just scored against Nigeria the goal that qualifies his team for the CAN quarterfinals in Garoua, January 23, 2022 Daniel BELOUMOU OLOMO AFP
Text by: Farid Achache Follow
4 mins
By dint of self-sacrifice, hard work, solidarity, will Tunisia win the Grail in Cameroon?
In the meantime, if we were to award a regularity prize, Tunisia would certainly be on the podium of African nations.
She remains with Senegal, the only team to have played in the quarter-finals in Egypt in 2019. All the others have fallen by the wayside.
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To reach the quarterfinals, the Tunisians took out the Nigerians, until then, irresistible and invincible.
Few observers gave the Eagles of Carthage winners before the meeting.
Tunisians have the art of overturning the table at the right time.
The mission is never impossible.
A benchmark match that revives the
2018
globalists .
A spirit of solidarity
And the feat is doubly remarkable, as the Eagles, African champions in 2004, had bad luck in Cameroon. With 10 absentees (8 cases of Covid, 2 suspended), Tunisia, qualified without brilliance (only one victory and among the
best 3rd
), started the battle against Nigeria with serious handicaps. Never mind,
Wahbi Khazri
's teammates are still there! Finally, nothing surprising when you know that in previous editions, the Eagles of Carthage have often arrived for a place in the last four. Two years ago in the land of the Pharaohs, Youssef Msakni - author of the only goal against Nigeria - and his gang were eliminated in
the semi-finals against Senegal
.
“
What made the difference was this great spirit of solidarity.
When you feel like you've been fooled, either the group drops their arms or they unite.
Despite the passing generations, what does not change for Tunisia is the desire to be present in the next round
", testifies for RFI Hocine Ragued, former international (54 selections), who among other things lived the
quarter of electric final in Equatorial Guinea in 2015.
Against Nigeria, even coach Mondher Kebaier, also positive, had been forced to remain in solitary confinement in his hotel room, in contact by telephone with members of his staff.
Backpackers on the African continent
It should be noted that Tunisia masters the geography of the continent very well. The Eagles of Carthage spread their wings between each final phase to cross Africa in search of qualification. “
We know this continent well, we know what it's like to play a qualifying match in Sierra Leone or Botswana
,” explains Hocine Ragued.
Above all, Tunisia has always had in its ranks elements accustomed to continental competitions, such as the Champions League and the Confederation Cup.
Esperance de Tunis, Etoile du Sahel, Club Africain and Club Sfaxien remain iconic teams on the continent.
Unlike its Algerian or Moroccan neighbors, Tunisia, which will face Mali in March for a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, does not rely solely on the pool of binational players.
Tunisia, which has ensured its qualification for CAN 2022, signs its 15th consecutive participation in the great celebration of African football.
It is simply a record.
The Eagles erase Egypt from the shelves, with 14 appearances in a row between 1984 and 2010.
Raise your level of play at the right time
“
Tunisia always manages to raise its level of play when necessary.
And every time it happens.
For many years, Tunisia and the CAN, despite everything that can be said about its workforce.
It is a reality, Tunisia remains a safe bet.
Tunisia has always had very disciplined defenders.
We have never won matches with a river score.
But we always had a very good defensive block.
And that's what makes the difference between a team that often goes far, and another that hits
, ”analyzes Hocine Ragued.
"
I hope the players will continue to find the resources to go all the way despite the difficulties.
But getting out of Nigeria with style is a great performance and can allow the Eagles to think that they are capable of going even further
,” concludes the former Espérance de Tunis player.
After the series of hard knocks that have affected the Carthage Eagles since the start of this AFCON, this quarter-final against Burkina Faso on Saturday January 29 in Garoua remains proof that determination is an integral part of this competition.
And Tunisia knows it very well.
Youssef Msakni, the veteran
Seven African Nations Cups.
Youssef Msakni, one of the most experienced players on the continent, brings his technical touch to Tunisia.
His long and powerful strike which eliminated Nigeria (1-0) in the round of 16 was not a first attempt.
At 31, Msakni still has some great pages to write.
With seven goals in the African Cup, he is already 19th among the top scorers in the history of the tournament.
With his seventh CAN, he is approaching the record of Cameroonian Rigobert Song and Egyptian Ahmed Hassan, who played eight, the same, from 1996 to 2010.
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