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2019 Africa Cup of Nations: Group E preview

By Liam Bekker

12 April 2019, Egypt, Cairo: Retired Cameroonian footballer Rigobert Song holds the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy on top of an open top bus during a tour in the streets of Cairo ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations draw, which to take place at the Pyramids of Giza. Photo: Hassan Mohamed/dpa (Photo by Hassan Mohamed/picture alliance via Getty Images)
12 April 2019, Egypt, Cairo: Retired Cameroonian footballer Rigobert Song holds the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy on top of an open top bus during a tour in the streets of Cairo ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations draw, which to take place at the Pyramids of Giza. Photo: Hassan Mohamed/dpa (Photo by Hassan Mohamed/picture alliance via Getty Images) /
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TUNIS, June 11, 2017 — Players compete during the 2019 African Nations Cup qualification match between Tunisia and Egypt in Tunis, capital of Tunisia, on June 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Adele Ezzine via Getty Images)
TUNIS, June 11, 2017 — Players compete during the 2019 African Nations Cup qualification match between Tunisia and Egypt in Tunis, capital of Tunisia, on June 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Adele Ezzine via Getty Images) /

Tunisia

Tunisia are taking part in their 19th Africa Cup of Nations tournament, having qualified for every edition of the competition since 1994. During that period, they were crowned champions in 2004 and reached the quarter-finals in each of their last two appearances.

Qualification

Coached by Alain Giresse, who led Mali to a third-placed finish in 2012, Tunisia topped their qualification group ahead of North African rivals Egypt. The Tunisians won five out of their six matches, scoring 12 goals along the way. Naim Sliti scored a third of those goals with the French-born striker supported by the goal scoring contributions of Firas Chaouat, Yassine Meriah and Taha Yassine Khenissi, who scored two goals each.

The squad

Tunisia’s squad is characterized by the inclusion of a number of inexperienced players. Eight of the 23 players selected by Giresse have fewer than ten international caps to their name, including 18-year old defender Marc Lamti who has never played a match at senior club level.

The inclusion of such a large number of young players has meant there was no place for a number of the nation’s most experienced players, and the likes of Aymen Mathlouthi, Ali Maâloul and Syam Ben Youssef have all missed out. Saudi-based forward Fakhreddine Ben Youssef has also been left out.

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Key player: Youssef Msakni

After excelling in Qatar for more than half a decade, Youssef Msakni earned a move to Belgium in January. There, the flying forward has continued to impress where his goals have been well matched by his pace and trickery.

Despite his impressive form in recent years, the 28-year old is not well-known across major soccer circles, which Tunisia will look to use to their advantage. Msakni is capable of playing across the front-line and will no doubt leave his mark in Egypt.

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