Tunisia's Seifeddine Jaziri celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates Reuters/Suhaib Salem
Doha: Tunisia kicked off their FIFA Arab Cup campaign with a 5-1 demolition of Mauritania at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium yesterday, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in attendance.
The Carthage Eagles showed their class from the beginning as they took charge of Group B.
Two goals each from Seifeddine Jaziri and Mohamed Ben Arbi and Yousef Msakni’s strike late in the second half ensured victory for the North Africans.
Molaye Bessam scored a consolation goal for Mauritania in first half stoppage time after VAR controversially awarded a penalty for handball.
Yesterday, Tunisia coach Mondher El Kabir charged his players to maintain the North African side’s reputation as one of the top teams in the Arab world and Africa.
In response, the Carthage Eagles began the game on the front foot and soon called the Mauritanian goalkeeper Babacar Diop who was quick out of his line to save from Ben Arbi just six minutes into the match.
Diop again was called into action minutes later, but the ASC Police of Mauritania shot-stopper collided with captain Abdul Ba and had to be substituted after showing signs of concussion.
Adama ba then forced a rare save from Tunisia’s Farouk Ben Mustapha. Though Mauritania tried to string several passes, Didier Gomes Da Rosa’s men were heavily outclassed, as Tunisia’s Fakhreddine Ben Yousef hit the bar from a Ben Arbi freekick.
Jaziri had two chances to put the Eagles ahead, but the forward dragged his shot wide before firing straight at substitute goalkeeper Namori Diaw.
Tunisia’s persistence soon paid off in the 39th minute as Jaziri calmy guided home into the top corner with Manchester United’s starlet Hannibal Mejbri, the provider.
Three minutes later, Ben Arbi doubled the lead for the North Africans with a stunning strike from the edge of the box as Mauritania struggled to deal with the Tunisian attacking threat.
Just before half time, Jaziri bagged his second of the game and Tunisia’s third. The striker latched on to his rebound and cheekily backheeled the ball past the goalkeeper.
However, right on the stroke of halftime, Mauritania won a controversial penalty after VAR intervention for a handball on Mohamed Ben Hmida.
Molaye Bessam made no mistake from the spot sending Ben Mustapha the wrong way for the last kick of the half.
Tunisia started the second half on the attack, and five minutes in, Ben Arbi latched on to a loose ball, ran past the defenders before placing in the bottom corner with the goalie well beaten.
Mohammed Salim making his debut for Mauritania saw a rare opportunity dragged harmlessly wide.
Substitute Youssef Msakni bagged his 13th international goal to complete the rout right on the 90th minute as he guided home Yasin Chikhaoui’s low pass.
“The beginning of the match was good, and this is what we want. We got important points so that we can continue in the tournament as we should,” El Kabir said after the match.
The Tunisian tactician added, “The players’ performance was good and as a group also was good. We created many chances and scored five goals, and we were supposed to get more goals. In general, the match was good.”
Both teams are back in action on Friday as Tunisia take on Syria at the Al Bayt Stadium, while Mauritania will hope to bounce back from this loss against UAE on Friday at Stadium 974.
