The history of confrontations between Tunisia and Namibia is insignificant. The two selections met only one recovery, it was November 17, 2007 in a friendly at Radès. Victory of ours 2-0, goals of Alaeddine Yahia and Jemâa of the time of coach Roger Lemerre.
Tonight, it will be the second confrontation between the two selections, this time in a different setting, with regard to the match of the first round of the CAN 2023.
Tunisia will have as an adversaries during this CAN the selections of Namibia, Mali and South Africa in a Gr. E far from being a sinecure.
Achilles heel, offensive animation!
For its entry into the competition, the national eleven will be the test of a formula that it has not had enough time to put to work.
Play with a single defensive pivot-Skhiri in sentry-and two corridor players-Ben Slimane on the right and Rafiaâ on the left-. A formula that gave satisfaction as a friendly against Cape Verde, unlike the Tunisia-Mauritanie match where the Skhiri-Laïdouni association in the middle was not effective in the offensive animation.
The other novelty within the national team is that relating to the positioning of Youssef M’Sakni. The captain of the selection will probably evolve as a play-maker, he will be called upon to invest in the animation and the construction of the game.
This positioning will have a double effect. The first: giving magnitude and depth to the team’s game, two aspects in which the selection suffers. The second: free the left corridor to Elias Achouri so that he can assert his speed and take advantage of his dribble technique.
Of course, all of this is only pure theory. Hear patterns that will have to be applied. This device can succeed if the opposite team does not find the – or the – solution (s) to thwart it, as it can fail if our team plays or falls into approximation and precipitation.
Maâloul and Abdi in Ballottage
If the midfield quartet-Skhiri, Ben Slimane, Rafiaâ and M’sakni-leaves with the favors of Kadri, the coach will have to decide between Jouini and Khenissi at the center-forward to support the corridor striker Achouri.
Jouini is a station player and he is stronger in the fateful area, while Khenissi seems to be more comfortable in the transition game and ball calls on the edge of the offside.
In defense, the only uncertainty concerns the post of left side. Who will have Kadri’s favors between Mâaloul and Abdi? The first is stronger in the construction and the balls arrested while the second is more solid in the defensive phase.
The other defense positions should not experience any changes. Ben Saïd will keep the cages in front of the Meriah-Talbi axial pair. On the right corridor, Kechrida leaves the holder.
What can we say about the Namibian selection, except that it is modest (115th in the FIFA ranking). She has only three qualifications to a final phase of the CAN, all, all sanctioned by the first round. For Tunisians, this is an absolutely winning match.
Probable training
Tunisia: Ben Saïd, Kechrida, Mâaloul (Abdi), Meriah, Talbi, Skhiri, Ben Slimane, Rafiâa (Ben Romdhane), M’Sakni, Achouri, Jouini (Khenissi).
Tunisia – Namibia starts at 6:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on beIN Sports AR Max 1, 2, beIN SPORTS FR 2, Sport TV 1 and Digital Sport.
Chahir Chakroun
