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
