World Cup Qualifying Preview: Tunisia – Mozambique

Tunisia Off To A Flying Start

The Tunisian squad will come into this match full of confidence after a team composed largely of local players thrashed Sudan 4-0 in Rades Stadium during a friendly to prepare for the June 6 encounter versus Mozambique. The fact that the result was earned without the majority of the country’s European based elements is a good omen for Humberto Coelho’s men as it indicates competition for places in the roster is high, as is quality.

More importantly, the team exhibited a level of cohesiveness and attacking play seldom seen in recent years, in which the Carthage Eagles have been characterised as a defensively rugged yet offensively uncreative unit. The Portuguese trainer has been hard at work trying to help his players shed this identity, and though it hasn’t been easy, progress is clearly being made in this department.

The North Africans are in first place in the group with three points earned as they began their World Cup qualifying campaign in winning fashion in Nairobi versus the Harmabee Stars of Kenya on March 28. The match was a complicated one for the Tunisians, who only secured victory in the latter stages of the game thanks to inspired play by their substitutes and a clinical finish by Issam Jemaa, who put his team up 2-1.

Although their side are still just starting to show some of their attacking potential, fans of the Tunisian national team are excited by the prospect of winning the match versus the visiting Mambas this weekend in order to put further pressure on main group rivals Nigeria, who struggled against this same opponent in Maputo a little over a month ago.

The players have made it clear that they are not going to underestimate their opponents after being impressed by their athleticism and attacking play in the aforementioned match. Ultimately, the Tunisians will be seeking nothing less than victory in order to position themselves well for their potentially decisive encounter versus Nigeria on June 20 in Rades.

Mozambique Making Strides

Rather than set their sights too high in a group that includes two of Africa’s perennial heavyweights, Mozambique have set themselves a  more realistic goal of finishing second in the group to book a place in the 2010 African Nations Cup, which will be played in Angola in January of next year. Nevertheless, their goalless home draw versus one of the group favourites, Nigeria, has boosted their confidence a great deal and allowed them to dream of reaching South Africa 2010.

While there is still a lot of work to be done for such an unlikely situation to develop, the Mambas have the advantage of approaching this match with nothing to lose. In fact, the Mozambicans have every right to believe fully in their chances of creating an upset in the group when their March 28 performance versus Nigeria is taken into account.

Even though their visitors were clearly hampered by the synthetic surface on which the match was played, Mart Nooij’s side displayed some attractive football while relying on the athleticism and skill of their determined players. The Dutchman’s team arguably should have gathered all three points - one of the two Dario Monteiro’s disallowed goals was whistled for an non-existent offside.

Among the positives for Mozambique is that Nooij has built his squad around a core group of home based players whose clubs have allowed them to train together in Maputo on a weekly basis. This has built cohesiveness and understanding within the team and has added to their attacking flair.

The unity and team-work fostered during such training sessions will prove invaluable in Tunis, where they are sure to be tested by their experienced opposition. Furthermore, the lessons gained from their 1-0 win against Botswana on the last day of the previous round of qualification will come in handy as well.

FORM GUIDE

Tunisia

October 14: France 3-1 Tunisia

November 11: Ghana 0-0 Tunisia

February 11: Tunisia 1-1 Netherlands

March 28: Kenya 1-2 Tunisia

May 28: Tunisia 4-0 Sudan

Mozambique

September 7: Mozambique 1-1 Cote d’Ivoire

October 11: Botswana 0-1 Mozambique

November 19: Tanzania 1-0 Mozambique

February 11: Mozambique 2-0 Malawi

March 29: Mozambique 0-0 Nigeria

TEAM NEWS

Tunisia

Leading scorer Issam Jemaa and Hertha Berlin’s speedy forward Amine Chermiti are both set to miss the match through injury. However, Deportivo La Coruna’s Lassad Nouioui, who is only just coming back from a nagging hamstring problem, has been declared fit and ready for his first minutes in Tunisian colours.

Meanwhile, Zurich star Yassine Chikhaoui did not make the list of call-ups. National team coach Humberto Coelho has judged that it is still too soon to count on the services of a player who has yet to play a full half in his club side’s championship winning season. Nevertheless, the team is jam packed with young talented footballers eager to prove themselves on the international stage.

Possible Starting XI: Hamdi Kasraoui – Anis Boussaidi, Radhi Jaidi, Karim Haggui, Yassine Mikari – Houcine Ragued, Wissem Ben Yahia, Ousemma Darragi – Sami Allagui, Mohamed Ali Ghariani, Lassad Nouioui

Mozambique

Mozambique have been training in Libya to adjust to the North African climate ahead of the encounter and will arrive in Tunisia on Thursday, June 4, where they will benefit from a solitary training session before taking to the field against the Carthage Eagles.

Concerns over the late arrivals of Panathinaikos’ Simao and Supersport United’s Dominquez are tempered by the fact that Mart Nooij has had his locally based players at his disposal for more than a month prior to this encounter and will thus field a fully fit team on Saturday.

Possible Starting XI: Kapango – Paito, Dario Khan, Mano, Fanuel - Pelembe, Genito, Simao, Hagi - Miro, Monteiro

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tunisia

Ousemma Darragi has played an instrumental role in helping his club side, Esperance Sportive de Tunis, lift three titles this season and scored his first goal in national team colours in the recent 4-0 dismantling of Sudan in Rades.

The young offensive midfielder is undoubtedly the best player at his position in the Tunisian league and could be introduced into the starting line-up given his fine form. Darragi came on in the second half for Tjani Belaid in the Tunisia’s 2-1 versus Kenya and made an instant impact, dispossessing a Kenyan player and providing Issam Jemaa with the winning goal.

Mozambique

Dario Monteiro should have made headlines against Nigeria but was denied twice by the referee who waved off both of his 'goals' for offside. The Mamelodi Sundowns striker will seek to open his account in this last qualifying phase by scoring in Tunisia against the group leaders.

PREDICTION

Despite Mozambique’s impressive play versus Nigeria in Maputo, Tunisia remain heavy favourites to win this match as they are desperately seeking to maintain their advantage over Nigeria before the two meet on June 20. Mozambique’s athleticism and speed bothered the Super Eagles considerably but the North Africans have a reputation of being a much stingier defensive unit, especially when playing at home.

Tunisia 3-1 Mozambique

Rami Ayari, Goal.com