Step 4: Nigeria vs. Tunisia Preview

This game hardly needs an introduction but if that were really the case then I’d stop writing right now and that’s obviously not about to happen. It’s just that considering the setting, the rivalry, and the implications this encounter has for each team in terms of World Cup qualifying, we’ve already been dissecting it in our heads, on forums, and here on Tunisia WCB for quite some time.

We’ve come a long way from when the groups were first announced and now we’re halfway through the qualifiers. As things stand, after three out of six matches we’re leading our group with seven points, two points better than our West African rivals who have five of their own.

We witnessed our side make a valiant comeback and secure a crucial result in Nairobi to win 2-1, saw them do the bare minimum against Mozambique at home to earn a 2-0 victory before they wasted a great chance to take a solid grip on the ticket to South Africa letting Nigeria off the hook at Rades Stadium.

Now we’ve set ourselves up for 90 minutes which could very well define our future. While a loss would not mathematically rule us out, it will definitely reduce our chances significantly as we have a match against Kenya at home before traveling to Maputo for our final one against Mozambique (that one is going to be very tough). A win would give us a huge boost and make us undeniable favorites and a draw would preserve the current status quo and keep us in the lead but without much breathing room.

The most important thing for us will be to put absolutely everything we have into this match and not leave anything on the pitch. Given the heart and unity we’ve put on display in the past year (coming back from 2-0 down against Cameroon in the ACN or beating Kenya in Nairobi when it seemed we could falter after the equalizer), I’m not at all concerned about the level of effort we will display. All we can ask is they give it their all and I’m sure they will.

From a psychological standpoint, you barely have to motivate the players for this kind of match. In fact, in these situations a coach will likely have to defuse tension and stress that the players will be feeling because each of them knows that a World Cup place is essentially there for the taking. It’s a delicate task but I am confident Coelho can do this.

Besides that, there are many factors that actually point in our favor. I’m not going to dwell on history too much but this will help put some things in perspective. In our head to head match-ups: Wins: 6 for us, 4 for them. Draws: 6 each. Goals: 21 for us, 13 for them (courtesy of FIFA).

Meanwhile, out of the 16 times we’ve played each other since 1961, 7 have been World Cup qualifiers and we have a slight edge there as well: 3 wins for us, 2 wins for them, and 2 draws (courtesy of This Day newspaper, that plagiarized one of my articles… Paraphrasing is a lost art I guess)

In any case, the numbers are numbers and won’t have an impact on Sunday’s match but they are a useful reminder to some with short memories that we are one of Africa’s best sides and should not be taken lightly!

Amodu and so many others seem to forget that or perhaps they just prefer to do so… Not that different from what the coach was saying when the groups were announced but here we are in first place and with destiny still in our hands. His job is on the line though so I guess that somewhat explains it…

Furthermore, we don’t need to prove that we know how to get the results we need away from home. Recent must not lose matches like those in Bujumbura and Ouagadougou are just a few recent examples… One of Nigeria’s former players Emeka Ezeugo gets the picture.

With all that said however, we must not make the mistake of relying on history for comfort and let it distract us from what we’re facing. Make no doubt about it, our players are about to go into one of the most difficult matchups they’ve experienced in their football careers. Nigeria boasts a stellar record at home and the circumstances of the match (some players possibly observing the fast for Ramadan, student protests, crowd pressure on the referee, and a determined opponent desperate not to miss out on their second World Cup in a row) are going to make it a very unique occasion.

The Squads

Nigeria

Goalkeepers: Austin Ejide (Bastia), Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv/), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei-Yehuda)

Defenders: Onyekachi Apam (Nice), Elderson Echiejile (Rennes), Adefemi Olubayo (Boulogne), Taye Taiwo (Olympique Marseille) Joseph Yobo (Everton),Dele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam), Oluwafemi Ajilore (Groningen), Obinna Nwaneri (FC Sion)

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea), Sani Kaita (Rubin Kazan),Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kiev),Seyi Olofinjana (Hull City), Kalu Uche (Almeria)

Strikers: Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth),Chinedu Ogbuke (Hoffenheim) Osaze Odemwingie (Locomotiv Moscow), Obinna Nsofor (Malaga), Michael Eneramo (Esperance), Ikechukwu Uche (Real Zaragoza), John Utaka (Portsmouth)

Tunisia

Goalkeepers: Hamdi Kasraoui (Lens), Aymen Mathlouthi (Etoile), Jacem Khaloufi (Sfaxien)

Defenders: Aymen Abdennour (Etoile), Sofian Chahed (Hannover), Radhouane Felhi (1860 Munich), Saif Ghzel (Young Boys), Karim Hagui (Hannover), Bilel El-Ifa (CA), Ammar Jemal (Etoile), Khaled Soussi (CA), Yassine Mikari (Sochaux)

Midfielders: Fahid Ben Khalfallah (Valenciennes), Chaouki Ben Saada (Nice), Oussema Darragi (Esperance), Zouhaier Dhaouadi (CA), Chedy Hammami (Sfaxien), Khaled Korbi (Esperance), Haythem Mrabet (Sfaxien), Nabil Taider (Xanthi), Houcine Ragued (Slavia Prague)

Strikers: Sami Allagui (Greuther Furth), Issam Jemâa (Lens), Ali Zitouni (Anatalyaspor)

Match Time: 5:00 PM Tunis Time

Photos: Training pics from Jawhara FM can be seen here.

Audio: Listen to the players thoughts here.

Training Program: Check out our schedule prior to the match. Everyone is in Sousse now. Ragued was the last one to arrive today.

Outlook

With the players we have at our disposal, it is clear that we have every chance of earning a positive result.

Sure Chikhaoui, Mouihbi, and Chermiti (among others) aren’t present but this crop just held Ivory Coast to a draw in Sousse and have shown themselves capable of executing Coelho’s gameplans and have been successful in doing so for the most part.

Don’t expect the same match that we saw here in Tunis. Nigeria came for the draw that day and we were unable to break them down but in Abuja they will be forced to attack. After all, they really have no choice in the matter. To score and appease their fans they will have to push forward a lot more than they did at Rades Stadium and will ultimately leave space for us to exploit one way or another.

This doesn’t mean we want to sit back and wait for them. Our defense may be one of our strengths but our backline can’t handle 90 minutes of pressure that can be avoided. Letting the Super Eagles play is a recipe for disaster because it will fill them with confidence and give them an offensive rhythm that they can build off of. The key will be to not let Nigerian players have time on the ball in midfield. We just so happen to have exactly the type of players that can accomplish this and its something Coelho has been fine tuning since he took over the team. In Ragued, Korbi, Hammami, Taider, and Mrabet we have players who make a living at providing pressure and making interceptions.

When we have the ball we must look to make quick and smart passes to our creators (Ben Saada, Ben Khalfallah, Darragi and Dhaouadi) and offer each of them options to triangulate our passes and either surprise the Nigerian defense with runs into space or advance and take shots from distance. Our set pieces will also be a threat if our recent performances are any indication.

This match isn’t something to be feared, it’s an opportunity to show we deserve a place at South Africa 2010. It’s all in how you approach the match, if our Carthage Eagles fight tooth and nail and do it with the solidarity and positive attitude we are known for on the pitch then there’s no reason at all we can’t get what we want out of this Abuja showdown. Already I like what I’m hearing from our boys.

Injury Update

Mosaique FM reports Houcine Ragued has an ankle sprain and is doing light solitary training today and should be available for full training on Thursday hopefully as long as his MRI scan reveals nothing serious and his ankle cooperates.

Fahid Ben Khalfallah ruled out due to injury. To say this is a blow is an understatement. Ragued is back in training at least.

I’ll continue to update this post as things progress throughout the week. For now enjoy this video preview that Chikhaoui75 from Tunisie-Foot made. Some sections could use some work and I think “DeathRace” is pushing it but its actually a good dramatic montage. It might even be used by TV7 if it gets edited and arabized in time if what’s being said on the forum is to be believed.

FORZA TOUNES!!!