Comments on: CAF Confederations Cup 1st Leg Previews

By: Rami

Rami — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:25:07 +0000

Momo, Chikhaoui to Roma would be cool as long as he can carve out some playing time for himself. I think you’re on point with your analysis of why he would fit in. It would be weird seeing him in Roma colors though huh? You know cuz of the Taraji Roma connection. I’m still getting used to seeing Ben Frej in Taraji colors at Le Mans. Obviously should never be a determining factor in any transfer move of course. My guess is Chikhaoui stays until winter with FC Zurich but anything is possible.

Rachid, congratulations to Etoile my friend. You definitely could have scored more but 2-0 will have to do for now. The limitations of Esperance’s lineup choices in CAF hurt them a lot and you guys took advantage of this well. As for CA, I never expected a walk in the park but I definitely expected a narrow win at least. We’re at home and we shouldn’t be expecting less than the win. I always maintain hope but you’re right, we really dealt ourselves a blow with this result because we haven’t been convincing at all outside of of the country.

Achraf, we’ll see if Kasraoui is completely out of the plans now. I doubt we’d completely leave him out of the list but you never know. Balbouli still number 1 in my books.

By: Achraf

Achraf — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:34:40 +0000

Kasraoui just bought himself a one way ticket off the national team after his horrible game against l’etoile. Coelho will defenitly not be looking at him as an option at goal.

By: Rachid

Rachid — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:25:41 +0000

Results of Tunisian clubs are quite consistent with my earlier comments (see above). Esperance could have received a bigger blow from Etoile than 2-0! They were really lucky! Etoile very likely will proceed to the group stage. CS Sfaxien almost never disappoints, and especially away from home. They achieved a 2-2 game with a team that beat Ahly 2-1 in recent weeks and only lost to Ahly by 1-0 in Cairo! Even if they tie 1-1 in Sfax, CSS will proceed to the group phase. I wish them the very best of luck. Club Africain failed to beat their guests from Mali. I have not yet seen the game, but it appears the team from Mali was not as weak as expected. CA fans appear to have expected a walk in the park for their team!

Rami, the numbers mean something! I truly enjoy watching Etoile and Sfaxien because they have good fighting spirit. I still find EST and CA’s performances unstable, despite the false gandiose pictures some people mistakenly paint for them. As we say in Tunisian, we cannot “hide the sun with a screen.” For as long as we think Kasraoui is our best goal keeper both l’Esperance and our national team will continue to bleed. To learn from our mistakes, we should count on the best!

By: Momo

Momo — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:10:59 +0000

Yo guyes, I talked about Chikhaoui maybe going to Roma, after all that might just be where he’s heading. Apparently Spaletti is interested in him, and he seems to be well known among Italian scouts and coaches. In fact he’s being dubbed the “Tunisian Ibrahimovich” over there..hopefully this can become true, I just have a feeling Roma will go for him..because they just sold Mancini to Inter who plays same position as Chikhaoui, behind Vucinic and next to Totti..they don’t seem to have anyone that can really fill up that spot so they’ll have to look outside, and Chikhaoui is a very likely candidate..inchallah

By: Rami

Rami — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:15:57 +0000

Hey guys, sorry I haven’t been able to write about the game yet. I have family in town that I need to spend time with so inshallah tomorrow I’ll write up a full recap of all the weekends matches. I missed the first ten minutes of the match and watched it from there on. I have to admit I was really out of it as I had a really really really long night yesterday. I still saw the goals and saw that Etoile had the match under control and could have scored more. Chermiti said this was his last game in Sousse and confirmed the move to Hertha. I had heard about the possibilities of Wolfsburg and Werder but honestly didn’t believe them to be serious. Hertha has been waiting too long for them to suddenly pull a fast one on them. I should have mentioned it in the preview though, just forgot to add it. His injury isn’t severe I think according to what he said on infofoot but I’m pretty sure he can’t play the return due to suspension (yellow card accumulation).

Momo, thanks for the insights. Chikhaoui in Roma would be fantastic. I hope he comes back healthy soon. I really miss watching him, he leaves a serious void in my football viewing when he’s out of action. I hope he is in top form by the time that France game rolls around. I feel like he’d rise to the occasion in the Stade de France. Rabbi yeshfih, we need the guy badly.

Skander, what did you want to know about Guemamdia?

Fahd, you’re not far off with those predictions so far man. I hope the rest of them come true! As you said, the thing I like about Chikhaoui is that he’s not trying to leave to just any club at any cost. I really respect how seriously he takes these decisions. You can see its not a question of money with him. Refreshing since most Tunisians go to any team that offers them the most.

Rachid, in terms of my comments about CA, I said heads held high based on our performance in the return leg after that 5-1 aberration. We were missing our best player, our starting right back, starting central defender and had others suspended but still put in a wonderful match that we could really should have won by 4-0. It ended 2-1 but CA was cheered off the field because the fans knew the players gave it everything they had despite being severely handicapped by the referee in the 1st leg. It felt positive to me because of that. Doesn’t change that we lost though…

Anyways, please excuse the lack of activity today. I’ll try to not let life interfere as much as possible in the future hehe

By: marwen

marwen — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:15:23 +0000

i didnt get the chance to watch the game
even thought i cheer for taraji; i knew they were going to lose this one

By: Fahd

Fahd — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 19:03:51 +0000

YES INDEED Elnejm played football and Esperance did not end of Story!!! The goals scored were not rejected this time. As I said before Elnejm should focus on the africain leagues only!!

By: skander

skander — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 18:09:17 +0000

Skander, Etoile Sahel won 2-0, ‘Chermiti, ‘Ogunbiyi scored and Etoile created many chances, Chermiti and Sassi had a big chance either with ben dhifallah’s headball in the bar… Esperance didn’t create dangerous chances, but rami will update with much more details

By: Skander

Skander — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:10:16 +0000

Hi everyone, I am in Japan and have no way of seeing the game. Could anybody please post the results as soon as possible?

On a side note check here
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/7498008.stm
to see how Lemerre seems to have gotten his tongue back. Is this:
a- another demonstration of the notorious Moroccan black magic?
b- The somewhat less impressive magical powers of money?
c- Or just the initial excitement which any marriage goes through before boredom and disinterest and worse things set in?

By: skander

skander — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 10:23:34 +0000

By the way, Wolfsburg has something big going on, they are spending big money in buying grat players, they finished 5th or 6th in the bundesliga. So a move to wolfsburg shouldn’t be bad