Preview: Tunisia vs Comoros,Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying Group Stage
- Soccer News 2024/10/10 07:45
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Tunisia maintained their 100% start to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with a 2-1 win over Gambia at the Stade El Abdi on 9 September.
After going behind to Ali Abdi's 11th-minute opener, Gambia hit back 180 seconds later through Ali Sowe, but Ferencvaros midfielder Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane scored in the 75th minute to give the visitors all three points.
This came just three days after they had opened their qualifying campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Madagascar in Rades, with Ferjani Sassi scoring in the eighth minute of stoppage time to leave the Barea empty-handed.
After an embarrassing performance at the 2023 AFCON, where they were knocked out at the group stage in January, Tunisia have started their quest for a 17th successive appearance at the tournament on a high as they sit top of Group A, four points clear of Friday's visitors in second.
Faouzi Benzarti's men go into the weekend unbeaten in their last five games in all competitions, with one draw and four wins, including a 1-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on 5 June.
The Eagles of Carthage are also on course for a World Cup berth as they top Group H with 10 points from a possible 12, two ahead of second-placed Namibia.
Comoros, on the other hand, failed to make an impact in the AFCON qualifiers on 9 September, when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Madagascar at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi.
Madagascar broke the deadlock in the ninth minute through Carolus Andria, but Troyes midfielder Youssouf M'Changama equalised four minutes before half-time.
It was the second consecutive stalemate for Comoros, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Gambia in their Group A opener on 4 September, when Musa Barrow cancelled out M'Changama's 37th-minute opener.
Les Coelacantes have now gone four games without a win in all competitions, drawing twice and losing twice, including a penalty shoot-out defeat to Mozambique in the COSAFA Cup third place play-off on 7 July.
Having missed out on a place in Côte d'Ivoire earlier this year, Stefano Cusin's men will be looking to regain their footing in Group A this weekend, with an AFCON appearance on the cards.
Comoros' only previous appearance at the continental showpiece came in 2021, when they finished as one of the best third-placed teams in the group stage before losing 2-1 to hosts Cameroon in the round of 16.
Tunisia have named a 28-man squad for the October double-header, with Esperance Tunis' Bechir Ben Said, Frankfurt's Ellyes Skhiri and Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri leading the way.
Houssem Ben Ali, Bilel Ait Malek, Chiheb Jebali and goalkeeper Sabri Ben Hessen are the four new faces in the Eagles of Carthage camp and could make their senior debuts at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi.
Benzarti is likely to stick with the back four of Abdi, Montassar Talbi, Yassine Meriah and Raed Bouchniba that started against Gambia in September, while Ali Youssef and Hamza Rafia will once again form a two-man attack.
Comoros have named a 23-man squad for their upcoming qualifiers, with 35-year-old midfielder M'Changama, who has scored 13 goals in 63 appearances since his debut in October 2010, left out of the squad.
Experienced defender Younn Zahary, who made his debut in October 2019, has been ruled out of Les Coelacantes' squad due to injury and 21-year-old Yakine Said Mmadi has been called up to fill the vacancy.
Amiens defender Remy Vita and Volcan Club midfielder Naimoudine Assane have both received their first senior call-ups and will be hoping to make an impact against Tunisia.
Tunisia possible starting lineup:
Memmiche; Abdi, Talbi, Meriah, Bouchniba; Romdhane, Laidouni, Sassi, Ouanes; Youssef, Rafia
Comoros possible starting lineup:
Pandor; Abdallah, M'Dahoma, Omari, Bakari; Ahmed, Lutin, Bourhane; Said, Maolida, Selemani
Prediction:Tunisia 2-0 Comoros
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