23.01. (Mon) 20:00 Morocco - Tunisia

منتخب المغرب لكرة القدم (Morocco)

PROBABLE LINEUPS

MOROCCO LamyaghriBasser, Kaouatri, Benatia, Kaddouri Belhanda, Kharja Taarabt, Boussoufa, Amrabat Chamakh

TUNISIA MathlouthiIfa, Haggui, Abdennour, Jemal Traoui, Korbi Allagui, Chikhaoui, Dhaouadi Khelifa

After missing out on the 2010 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), Morocco are out to prove to the continent, and perhaps even themselves, that the days of underachieving are truly behind them. With Eric Gerets at the helm, the Atlas Lions were, for the most part, outstanding in the qualifiers. Furthermore, they will be adequately prepared for their Tunisian opponents as they had to oust Algeria to get to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Morocco prepared with a Spain-based training camp that featured a 3-1 comeback win over Grasshopper Zurich and a goalless draw against another Swiss side, Basel. The team looks to be in good shape but Gerets hasn’t been spared injury concerns as the influential Oussama Assaidi has tendinitis in his achilles tendon that may keep him out of the first game, and possibly longer than that.
Facing the Lions are Tunisians who struggled mightily in qualifying due to a combination of political upheaval, injuries, and coaching changes. Despite barely making it, the Carthage Eagles will surely benefit from having a team composed of six representatives from African club champions Esperance. Furthermore, coach Sami Trabelsi and many of the players at his disposal were victorious at the 2011 Africa Championship of Nations (Chan).
In terms of injuries, Issam Jemaa is carrying a hamstring pull that will almost surely prevent him from taking part in this encounter. In addition, Trabelsi will be unable to use his preferred left-back, Khalil Chammam, who is suspended for this encounter due to yellow card accumulation. Koln’s Ammar Jemal is expected to take over on the left side of defence.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Morocco haven’t won the African Cup on Nations since 1976 in Ethiopia while Tunisia last lifted it on home soil in 2004, beating the Atlas Lions 2-1 in the final.

• Tunisia ousted Morocco in 2011 Africa Championship of Nations (Chan) qualifying in a tense match.

• The last time Morocco and Tunisia faced each other in an official match was back in 2007 when they tied 1-1 in Casablanca.

• Morocco’s Younes Belhanda may end up involved in a midfield battle with his Montpellier team-mate, Jamel Saihi.

• The Carthage Eagles qualified for the 2006 World Cup at the expense of the Atlas Lions.

• Neither of the two north African teams qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Prediction

Both teams have a great deal of offensive firepower and one can expect plenty of goals to be scored so long as both sides play to their full potential. A draw is entirely possible between two sides that know each other very well.

Editor's Prediction

Morocco 2-2 Tunisia

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23.01. (Mon) 17:00 Gabon - Niger

Mahmoud maher

PROBABLE LINEUPS

GABON Ovono Moundounga, E. Manga, B. Apanga, Ambouroet Poko, Moubamba, Zita, Mouloungui, Cousin, Aubameyang

NIGER   KassalyMoussa, Chikoto, Kowa, Koudize Ngounou, Talatou, Idrissa, Lancina Maazou, Daouda

The Panthers boast a full-strength squad for their clash with the Mena, who are making their debut at the Africa Cup of Nations. The co-hosts have brought back 14 of the 23 players who represented them at the previous edition two years ago in Angola.

Gabon are strong in attack, with former Milan forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, now of St Etienne, and Daniel Cousin providing impressive options up front. Defender Bruno Ecuele Manga will be marshalling the back line, and the Panthers will feel confident that they can make full use of home advantage here.

Level with Sierra Leone and South Africa at the end of all the matches in their qualifying group, and benefitting from the Caf specific regulations to go through, Niger are expected to be the whipping boys in this group, but they will have a great change to prove themselves against the co-hosts.

Niger trainer Harouna Douala was named by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) as the Africa's top coach of the year for his work in helping the country qualify for their first ever Afcon. Prior to receiving the honour, the Niger FA hired former Marseille coach Frenchman Rolland Courbis to assist him during the tournament, and this match will show just how useful the new recruit has been to the squad.

After this encounter is decided, the two teams involved will have battle it out in Group C against north African giants Tunisia and Morocco.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Gabon are hosting the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations alongside co-hosts Equatorial Guinea.

• Gabon have the dubious record of being the opposition when Ayman Mansour of Egypt score the quickest goal in the history of the tournament in 23 seconds at the El Menzah Stadium in Tunis during the 1994 finals. 

• In November last year Gabon lost 2-0 to Brazil in the inaugural match at the Stade de L'Amitie. The venue will host the Afcon final in February.

• Former Hull City and Rangers striker Daniel Cousin is the captain of the Panthers.

• Niger star player Moussa Maazou's Belgian club Zulte-Waregem recently received the unenviable “Ballon de plomb” awarded by “Les Cahiers du Football” as the biggest disappointment of the year.

• During the Afcon Niger will be assisted by trainer Rolland Courbis, along with coach Harouna Douala, who was nominated best African coach in 2011 by the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

• This match will see the Mena make their Afcon debut.

• In the run up to the tournament, Niger used the facilities at the Kadji Sport Academy in Cameroon, where the likes of Samuel Eto’o, Idriss Carlos Kameni, Nicolas Nkoulou and Stephan Mbia were groomed.

Prediction

The co-hosts will be lifted by their home support, but Niger will know that they have nothing to lose in this encounter.

Editor's Prediction

Gabon 2-1 Niger

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