With its backs against the wall before the last day of the group stage, Tunisia plays this Tuesday in Rabat a qualification which hangs by a thread. Facing Tanzania, the Eagles of Carthage no longer have room for error otherwise they will exit the CAN 2025 prematurely.
It’s a double or nothing match. This Tuesday at 5:00 p.m., at the Prince Moulay Abdallah stadium in Rabat, the Tunisian selection faces Tanzania with only one certainty: qualification is still possible, but the sanction for a misstep could be immediate. After a defeat with serious consequences against Nigeria, the margin for error has evaporated.
Maximum pressure on the Eagles
The meeting will be led by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo. On the field, Tunisia will have to show a completely different face than during its previous outing. Coach Sami Trabelsi, targeted by strong criticism, finds himself at the center of all expectations. Collective reaction or new disillusionment: the equation is brutal.
Two options are enough on paper: to win or not to lose. With three points, Tunisia can maintain its second place in Group C without depending on any other result. But with Tanzania still in the race, caution is no longer permitted and the calculation can be costly.
The specter of a premature exit
A defeat would open the door to all dark scenarios. Uganda could reshuffle the cards against Nigeria, and Tunisia would find themselves scrutinizing the ranking of the best thirds, with no guarantee of survival. A scenario that the Eagles of Carthage want to avoid at all costs.
Before this last day, Nigeria sits in the lead with six points and has already validated its ticket. Tunisia follows with three units, while Tanzania and Uganda remain on the lookout with one point each. In the other match of the group, Nigeria faces Uganda in Fez, at the same time.
A second place would give Tunisia a round of 16 against Mali. A third place could, on the other hand, lead to a very high-level shock against Morocco or Egypt. In Rabat, the Carthage Eagles know that this match is not just a group stage encounter: it is a test of character.
