Egypt achieves record primary budget surplus of EGP 629bn despite sharp fall in Suez Canal revenues    Escalation in Gaza, West Bank as Israeli strikes continue amid mounting international criticism    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Resumption of production at El Nasr marks strategic step towards localising automotive industry: El-Shimy    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, UNDP discuss outcomes of joint projects, future environmental cooperation    United Bank achieves EGP 1.51bn net profit in H1 2025, up 26.9% year-on-year    After Putin summit, Trump says peace deal is best way to end Ukraine war    Jordan condemns Israeli PM remarks on 'Greater Israel'    Egypt's Supreme Energy Council reviews power supply plans for 14 industrial projects    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, bilateral ties in calls with Saudi, South African counterparts    Egypt prepares to tackle seasonal air pollution in Nile Delta    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egyptian pound closes high vs. USD on Tuesday – CBE    Egypt, Colombia discuss medical support for Palestinians injured in Gaza    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt's govt. issues licensing controls for used cooking oil activities    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Egypt's Sisi: Egypt is gateway for aid to Gaza, not displacement    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Tunisia
Published in Ahram Online on 11 - 01 - 2013

Qualifying campaign: Tunisia could only reach the CAN virtue of the away goal rule after they were pushed all the way by Sierra Leone. The Carthage Eagles secured a 2-2 away draw, and a goalless stalemate in the second leg in Tunisia was enough to lift them through.
History: Tunisia made 14 CAN appearances, winning the tournament once in 2004 on home soil. They were also runners up in 1965 and 1996. They qualified for four World Cups in 1978, 1998, 2002 and 2006 but failed to get beyond the first round.
Expectations: Tunisia are a consistent force at the finals but have won only once, when they hosted the finals in 2004. They will have fond memories of their last tournament in South Africa when they sent an under-23 side to the 1996 finals, which they used to prepare the team for the Atlanta Olympics, and were as stunned as the rest when the team finished runners-up.
FIFA ranking: 45 (8 in Africa)
Achievements:
CAN winners in 2004
Made 4 World Cup appearances in 1978, 1998, 2002 and 2006
Made 1 FIFA Confederations Cup appearance in 2005
Coach: Sami Trabelsi (Tunisia)
Sami Trabelsi was a long-standing fullback for the Tunisia side, playing at three Nations Cup finals between 1996 and 2000 and at the 1998 World Cup in France. At the 1996 Nations Cup he competed in every game but then missed out on the final, which Tunisia lost to hosts South Africa. Trabelsi coached Tunisia's home-based players to victory at the 2011 African Nations Championship in Sudan and was then handed the national team job in March 2011.
Key players:
Issam Jemaa (Kuwait SC). Age: 28. Pos: Forward
Tunisia's all-time top scorer with 32 goals who is heading to his fifth successive Nations Cup tournament. Jemaa won the Tunisian championship with Esperance in 2003 and 2004 before moving to France, where he played at Racing Lens, Caen, AJ Auxerre and Stade Brest. Last year he moved to Kuwait.
Aymen Abdennour (Toulouse). Age: 23. Pos: Defender
Former captain of the under-21 side, who was a firm favourite at Etoile Sahel before going on loan to Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga. Toulouse signed him in 2011 and such was their delight at his adaptation to Ligue 1 that they extended his contract to a four-year deal six months after his arrival. He started as a left wing, later played at left back but is now used at a centre back.
Youssef Msakni (Al Lekhwiya). Age: 22. Pos: Midfielder
Has just signed a lucrative deal with Qatari club Al Lekhwiya after helping Esperance to reach two successive African Champions League finals. Tricky winger with an ability to glide past defenders but needs some more polish before fulfilling frequent predictions that he might become a real sensation.
Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: 22- Moez Ben Cherifia (Esperance), 1- Farouk Ben Mustapha (CA Bizertin), 16- Aymen Mathlouthi (Etoile Sahel)
Defenders: 20- Aymen Abdennour (Toulouse), 18- Anis Boussaidi (Tavria Simferopol), 12- Khalil Chammam (Esperance), 5- Chamseddine Dhaouadi (Etoile Sahel), 6- Fatah Garbi (CS Sfaxien), 3- Walid Hichri (Esperance), 2- Bilel Ifa (Club Africain)
Midfielfders: 4- Hatten Baratli (Club Africain), 13- Wissem Ben Yahia (Mersin Idmanyurdu), 10- Oussama Darragi (FC Sion), 8- Chadi Hammami (Kuwait SC), 23- Wahbi Kharzi (Bastia), 21- Khaled Mouelhi, 7- Youssef Msakni (both Esperance), 14- Mejdi Traoui (Esperance)
Strikers: 11- Fakhreddine Ben Youssef (CS Sfaxien), 15- Zouhair Dhaouadi (unattached), 9- Hamdi Harbaoui (Lokeren), 19- Saber Khlifa (Evian Thonon Gaillard), 17- Issam Jomaa (Kuwait SC).
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at@AO Sports and on Facebook atAhramOnlineSports)
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/62113.aspx


Clic here to read the story from its source.