The recent image of the Tunisian national team remains closely linked to its World Cup in Qatar, with a historic victory against France (1-0), in the group stage, which was to call for others on its mother land African. We are not there in Ivory Coast, where, after a defeat against Namibia (0-1) and a draw against Mali (1-1), the Tunisians must beat South Africa this Wednesday to see eighths.
If we take away Hannibal Mejbri, the hopeful (21 years old) pushed to forfeit to relaunch in Seville this winter, the Tunisian framework nevertheless resembles that of November 2022. In the offices, the picture is much more nightmarish, between a president of the Federation, Wadie Jary, imprisoned for a problem with the management of public funds following a complaint from the Ministry of Sports, a federal office soon to be renewed and a coach, Jalel Kadri, already announced as leaving , even in the event of success in this Ivorian CAN.
“We are going to win, mark my words, we are going to win”
Seifeddine Jaziri, Tunisia striker
This should not disturb the technician too much, since at 52 years old he has already traveled extensively, with 26 positions in a little over twenty years of career. Officially arriving at the end of CAN 2021, he has already almost beaten his longevity record. But it would be messy to be eliminated in the group phase with a squad a priori capable of much better, even if certain positions appear less well stocked. And particularly at the forefront, which pushed the coach to refocus Youssef Msakni, the star, record holder for the number of CAN contested with the Cameroonian Rigobert Song and the Ghanaian André Ayew (8).
Seen as a “Facebook coach”
Internally, players have not yet been completely won over by the coach’s speech, since some consider him to be a Facebook coach, very quick to look at this social network for his team compositions and thus avoid controversies over his choice. The Eagles will always count on Ellyes Skhiri and Aïssa Laïdouni, in the middle, to stabilize a team where Elias Achouri presents dribbling characteristics capable of igniting the fans.
“All the people are behind their team,” explains Walid el-Mechri, journalist, who remained in Tunis and who must come in the event of eighths. Even though we’re disappointed so far, the second game gave us a breath of fresh air. Our future remains in our hands. » Seifeddine Jaziri, the center forward of Zamalek, warned yesterday: “We are going to win, mark my words, we are going to win. »
