After getting their qualifying campaign off to the worst possible start, a shock 1-0 home loss to Botswana which they blamed on a lack of physical and mental preparation, the Tunisians responded by defeating Chad 3-1 in N’Djamena. While the win was certainly expected of them considering the gulf of experience and skill between them and the Sao players, the victory was nevertheless impressive considering that the North Africans played with the type of grit and determination that Carthage Eagles fans haven’t seen in some time.
Now, Tunisia’s players have stated their intention of continuing the upwards trend in order to reconcile their differences with their dwindling fan base who very often show more allegiance to their club sides than they do to their national team. A convincing win against Malawi might not be enough to win back the hearts and minds of their disillusioned supporters but it would certainly be a step in the right direction.
“Our main task will be to compete at our real level and play good football. We expect Malawi to do what Botswana did, try to score a goal and then defend till the end. The best way to avoid this is to first of all not concede any goals. We need to play our game and control the tempo. If we can score early, it will help us a lot but what’s going to help us the most is definitely the fans whom we hope will come in numbers,” said Bordeaux’s Fahid Ben Khalfallah when speaking about the match with La Presse today.
Looking For A Spark
Malawi are a team on the rise in Africa and confirmed this by qualifying for the 2010 AFCON in Angola where they humbled World Cup participants Algeria 3-0 in their first group game. While they followed that up with a 2-0 loss to the hosts and a 3-1 defeat to Mali, the Flames did enough at the tournament to prove that they are to be taken seriously in the future.
Perhaps more worrisome for the Tunisians is the fact that this is a side that has shown a penchant for troubling North African teams in particular. In addition to their triumph over the Fennecs in January, the Flames also managed to down the African Champions Egypt 1-0 in a qualifier last year as well.
Besides that, there is history between the two nations. Tunisia lost their first two encounters to Malawi in 1987 and 1989 before beating them a month later and then drawing them in 2004. However, their most recent encounter, in 2005, also happens to be the Carthage Eagles’ largest international win ever, a 7-0 trouncing in a qualifier during which Brazilian born Francileudo Dos Santos scored four goals by himself. Will history repeat itself? Thankfully for the Flames, Dos Santos isn’t part of Bertrand Marchand’s squad.
The Flames are currently tied with Togo on two points and are right behind their North African rivals who have three. Getting a result in Rades would significantly improve their chances of qualifying for what would only be their third AFCON in their history.
FORM GUIDE
Tunisia
August 11: Chad 1-3 Tunisia
July 1: Tunisia 0-1 Botswana
June 20: Sudan 2-6 Tunisia
May 30: Tunisia 1-1 France
January 21: Cameroon 2-2 Tunisia
Malawi
August 11: Malawi 1-1 Botswana
July 9: Togo 1-1 Malawi
May 12: Yemen 1-0 Malawi
March 3: Zimbabwe 2-1 Malawi
January 18: Mali 3-1 Malawi
TEAM NEWS
Tunisia
In addition to having lost FC Zurich’s Yassine Chikhaoui during the Chad game, the Tunisians will also be missing two of their starters: Midfielder Oussama Darragi and defender Ammar Jemal. Both Wissem Ben Yahia and Lamjed Chehoudi have been called up as replacements but neither of them is likely to start against the Flames. Yassine Mikari is expected to take Jemal’s place and either Chaouki Ben Saada or Youssef Msekni will take over for Darragi. The rest of the team will remain unchanged. Meanwhile, in an effort to draw more fans to the match, the FTF will be providing free transportation to and from the Stadium and will also allow free access to three sections of the stadium.
Squad: Hamdi Kasraoui (RC Lens, France), Wassim Nawara (ES Tunis), Rami Jeridi (Stade Tunisien), Anis Boussaïdi (PAOK, Greece), Karim Haggui (Hannover 96, Germany), Mehdi Meriah (Club Africain), Yassine Mikari (FC Sochaux, France), Khaled Souissi (Club Africain), Alaeddine Yahia (RC Lens, France), Chaker Bargaoui (CS Sfaxien), Fahid Ben Khalfallah (Valenciennes, France), Chaouki Ben Saada (OGC Nice, France), Wissem Ben Yahia (Club Africain), Khaled Korbi (ES Tunis), Mehdi Nafti (Aris, Greece), Jamel Saihi (Montpellier, France), Mejdi Traoui (ES Tunis), Ahmed Akaichi (ES Sahel), Sami Allagui (FSV Mainz, Germany), Zouhaier Dhaouadi (Club Africain), Issam Jemaa (RC Lens, France), Youssef Msakni (ES Tunis), Lamjed Chehoudi (ES Sahel)
Malawi
There recently was a row between midfielder Joseph Kamwendo and Flames coach Kinnah Phiri over the coach’s alleged questioning of the player’s fitness levels following Malawi’s 1-1 home draw against Botswana. Kamwendo was thought to have retired from international football after hearing his coach’s alleged remarks but the two have since settled their differences. Nevertheless, the South Africa based player has not been included in Malawi’s squad to face Tunisia.
Squad: Peter ‘Mjojo’ Mponda (Santos, South Africa), Harry Nyirenda (Black Leopards FC, South Africa), Elvis Kafoteka (APR, Rwanda), Allan Kamanga (Dynamos FC, South Africa), James ‘Shareholder’ Sangala (Primeiro de Agusto, Angola), Robert ‘Baggio’ Ng’ambi (Black Leopards, South Africa), Fisher Kondowe (Batau FC, South Africa), Jacob Ngwira (Carara Kicks, South Africa), Atusaye Nyondo Carara Kicks, South Africa), Victor Nyirenda (APR, Rwanda), Russel Mwafulirwa (IFK Norrkoping, Sweden), Esau Kanyenda (Striker – FC Volgraard, Russia), Chiukepo Msowoya (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), Benard Harawa (Black Leopards, South Africa), Swadik Sanudi (African Warriors, South Africa), Simplex Nthara (MTL Wanderers, Malawi), striker Dave ‘Abambo’ Banda (Red Lions, Malawi), Limbikani Mzava (Escom United, Malawi), Hellings Mwakasungula (Silver Strikers, Malawi)
PREDICTION
Even though Malawi has proven recently that they can punch above their weight, especially against North African sides, it is highly unlikely that a team as historically consistent in AFCON qualifying as Tunisia will allow themselves to drop points at home for a second straight time. It won’t be easy but the Carthage Eagles should gather all three points to separate themselves from the third, fourth, and fifth place teams in their group.Tunisia 2-1 Malawi
