Last chance

Tunisia facing battle to avoid early exit in Mali

MOPTI, Mali (Reuters) -- World Cup finalist Tunisia must beat Senegal in its final group match at the African Nations Cup on Thursday to stand a chance of staying in the tournament.

Tunisia is competing in its fifth successive finals but has never won and the side coached by Frenchman Henri Michel has so far failed to score in the current tournament.

Michel, hired to take Tunisia to the World Cup in Korea and Japan, is coming under fire from the Tunisian press and there is growing speculation his contract may be cancelled before the tournament starts in May.

The Frenchman, who has previously taken France, Morocco and Cameroon to the World Cup finals, slammed his players after the goalless draw against Zambia in their opening match.

He said they lacked experience, composure, were clumsy and had shown their limitations.

Against Egypt they fared worse. Egypt outplayed them and won by a single goal to leave Tunisia bottom of group D, level with Zambia on one point.

No pushovers

Fellow World Cup finalist Senegal is already assured of a quarterfinal place after two 1-0 victories. But it will be no pushovers since it needs a point from the game to ensure it finishes top and avoids meeting Cameroon.

Senegal, also coached by a Frenchman, Bruno Metsu, will be keen to finish the group phase with a good result.

Both its victories came through late goals and the west African side, considered one of the favorites to lift the cup for the first time, failed to stamp its authority on either game.

Thanks to its victory over Tunisia, Egypt could still catch Senegal on six points, and go top on goal difference if the north Africans defeat Zambia and Senegal lose to Tunisia.

Zambia, plagued by illness since the start of the tournament, also has a chance of reaching the quarterfinals if it beats Egypt and Tunisia lose or draw with Senegal.

Like Tunisia, Zambia has never won the African Nations Cup but has twice come second.

Against both Tunisia and Senegal, the southern Africans looked the slicker side in midfield and attack but lacked that killer punch in front of goal.

Zambia will be hoping perky striker Dennis Lota, who so nearly stole the game against Tunisia in the dying seconds, will be fit again after missing the Senegal game.

The group winner is due to play the Democratic Republic of Congo, which thrashed Ivory Coast in its final group game, while the second-placed team faces the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

 

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