Tunisia players during a training session yesterday.
Tunisia coach Mondher El Kabir said the Carthage Eagles could go all the way to lift the Arab Cup title despite a strong lineup of contenders. Tunisia, winners of the inaugural Arab Cup in 1963, head into the tournament as favourites, with the likes of Youssef Msakni and Manchester United youngster Hannibal Mejbri leading the attack.
El Kabir said that the players must preserve Tunisia’s position as one of the best teams in the Arab world and Africa.
“In the past four years, especially the last two years, the Tunisian team is the first or second in the Arab world, as well as among the top five African teams, and we must maintain this reputation,” El Kabir stressed.
“Today, in such a tournament, we are required to preserve this reputation. There are indeed several strong teams, about six or seven teams, that have the potential to win.”
The Carthage Eagles are on a run of five wins from eight and will hope to use the Arab Cup as a test ahead of the African Cup of Nations in January next year.
Against Mauritania, whom they have played twice in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers, winning by three goals at home before being held to a draw away, a win would set them on the right path with the UAE and Syria still to come in Group B.
“We need to be ready to win. We have 10 absent players compared to some previous tournament, but we respect those we chose to represent Tunisia,” El Kabir said.
Meanwhile, Al Duhail and Tunisia midfielder Ferjani Sassi said the team is confident in their ability and will not be afraid of any team in the competition.
“We have confidence in ourselves and respect the other teams. We are only afraid of ourselves. We have to be careful and ready and not be afraid of any team. We are just afraid of laxity and lack of focus or discipline,” Sassi said.
“We play our first match with Mauritania, and we know this team well. In the past, we have beaten them and drawn against them. The matches will not be easy, but we will not give anyone a chance to win,” Sassi added.
Mauritania continue their fairytale football run, having qualified for their second African Cup of Nations earlier. However, the Didier Gomes Da Rosa-tutored side has just one win in their last seven games with four defeats.
“We will play against the best team in the group, and the task will be difficult,” Da Rosa said. “We hope to do our best and to be at our best for the game,” he added.
“Our first goal is to progress through the stages in the tournament, and we have a great challenge in the first match, especially since Tunisia is one of the favourites to win the title and we are in the same group in the African Cup of Nations. However, our focus is great in this match,” the 52-year-old French tactician said.
