The 31st edition of the African Cup of Nations (AfCON) football tournament to be hosted by Gabon promises to be intresting even as Africa’s football powerhouse Nigeria and other big name teams such as Zambia misses out on the event.
A profile of the participating teams in each group would go some distance in helping to know their history in the competion,star players, and lineups before the big kick-off on Saturday, January 14, 2017 in Liberville, the capital of hosts Gabon.
History
Nicknamed Les Aigles de Carthage,Tunisia has been a regular guests to the Africa Cup of Nations, lifting the trophy once in 2004 in an event that was hosted in their capital Tunis.
In a number occasions Tunisia have made it to the finals in 1994, finished third in 1962 and clinched the second spot in the 1965 and 1996.
At the upcoming Afcon in Gabon, Tunisia will be making their 17th appearance at the event that they have not succeeded since the 2004 edition at home as the class of 2017 does not exactly have the same power about it as they scratched through the finals from week group consisting of Mauritania, Togo and Liberia.
It is a side that makes a history of misses as they went very close to achieving their dream of conquering Africa in several occassions. The 2002 produced Tunisia’s best memory in the history of the Nations Cup.
They made it to the pondium after successfully avoiding defeat against Guinea, Rwanda and Congo DR in the group stages.
It was a tough tie for the Tunisians in the quarters when they faced Senegal and suprisely they imposed themselves to a 1-0 in Rades to book a date with hot favorites Super Eagles of Nigera in the semi final stage of the competition.
Carthage Eagles faced elimination when red-hot Jay Jay Okocha struck in the 67th minute to the tears of home supporters but a late strike from Badra sent the game into extra-time where both teams failed to score again.
Penalties were required to define who will make it to the finals and to the jubilation of home fans, Nigeria’s Peter Odemwingie missed his penalty as Tunisia triumphed 5-3 to make it to the finals.
A record home crowd of over 70,000 spectators filled the stadium to witness Tunisia’s unprecedented Nations Cup triumph when they faced their North African counterparts Morroco for their first and only Afcon Trophy.
In the 2006 edition Nigeria went on revenge mission claiming a sweet 6-5 penalty shootout victory over the Eagles of Carthage in the quarter-finals. In the following Afcon which Tunisia qualified they fell in the same stage at the hands of strong Cameroon team that went on to clinch the trophy.
The 2010 edition was a bitter CAN for the Tunisians as they did not go past first stage, managing only one win in the three games that they played.
In the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, despite he terrible second match against Cote d’ivoire the Tunisians generally looked a decent side that could maybe have gone far in the opposition.
Carthage Eagles defeated Algeria 1-0 before they were humbled by Ivorian side in the second match
The last Group match aganist Togo became the decider and it lived to that when Khaled Mouelhi missed a late
Afcon 2017 pairing
Tunisia first step would be how to figure out a way out of Group B where they will play alongside Senegal,Algeria and Zimbabwe.
Th team wiwill rely on trusted players like Aynem Abdennour(Valencia), Wahbi Khazri (Sunderland),and Naim Sliti (Lille, France) among others to deliver the trophy.
Tunisians would hope that these Carthage Eagles can rise up to the challenge and defend the nation’s flag gallantly in Gabonstarting with their group games.
The first two teams in each group will advance to the knock out stage of the competitions before the last four emerges who will compete to determine which two makes it to the final for the chance to be crowned champions of African football 2017.
Key player
Sunderland’s Wahbi Khazri will be one of the stars to grace the occasion.
The 25-year-old’s midfielder made to the team despite a lack of games for his club having started only six games this season, two of them in the EFL Cup.He has made 13 appearances in total, but has yet to score this season.
Tunisia Afcon 2017 squad:
Goalkeepers: Aymen Mathlouthi (Etoile du Sahel), Moez Ben Cherifia (Esperance), Rami Jridi (CS Sfaxien)
Defenders: Ali Maaloul (Al Ahly, Egypt) Aymen Abdennour (Valencia, Spain), Siyam Ben Youssef (Caen, France), Hamza Mathlouthi (CS Sfaxien), Mohamed Ali Yacoubi (Rizespor, Turkey), Chamseddine Dhaouadi (Esperance), Slimane Kchok (CA Bizertin), Zied Boughattas, Hamdi Nagguez and Zied Boughatass (Etoile du Sahel)
Midfielders: Ferjani Sassi (Esperance), Larry Azouni (Nîmes, France), Naim Sliti (Lille, France), Wahbi Khazri (Sunderland, England),
Mohamed Amine Ben Amor and Hamza Lahmar (Etoile), Ahmed Khalil (Club Africain), Youssef Msakni (Lekhwiya, Qatar),
Forwards: Ahmed Akaïchi (Ittihad, Saudi Arabia), Taha Yassine Khenissi (Esperance), Saber Khelifa (Club Africain)
