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Kenya 1 – 2 Tunisia: Crucial Result

March 28th, 2009 | By: Rami | 95 Comments »

Sure it wasn’t pretty and damn was it stressful but the Carthage Eagles are leaving Nairobi tonight with three precious points to start off their World Cup qualification campaign on the right foot.

If you want a brief synopsis of how the game went you can check here.

Both our goals were pleasing on the eye but this match was not easy as some had expected it to be (not me, I predicted 2-1 and here I am smiling!).

The pitch did not favor our style of play and the rain only made it worse. You have to hand it to the Kenyans though, they really gave us problems and full credit to them for fighting their hardest.

Player Performances

Kasraoui: He confirmed his good form from the Ismaily match and didn’t misjudge many high balls like he usually does. Made the right decision every time he came out to stop one on ones with Kenyan attackers. Solid stuff and I hope he can keep it consistent.

Boussaidi: Takes some responsibility on the Kenyan goal for not closing down fast enough but a decent outing for him. Did his best to support his team-mates by making runs up the right flank but they didn’t result in much. Acceptable nevertheless.

Haggui: By far the most disappointing player on the field in my opinion. So far off his form that it was hard to believe this was the same player… He is desperately lacking in competition and we’re lucky that Coelho’s decision to play him didn’t cost us the match. Ghezal in his place would’ve been a much wiser choice. I know Haggui has experience but all the experience in the world doesn’t count for much when you’re not in shape.

Jaidi: Not as bad as Haggui but still unimpressive. Nearly put the ball past his own keeper too…

Jemal: Scored the hugely important opening goal in the first five minutes of the match in very difficult conditions. Great control, turn, and strike to put us into the lead and then always present on set pieces. Might be the player with the most “grinta” on the team.

Ragued: Was one of the reasons we didn’t concede more goals. Had to chase a lot of balls and I’m sure he’ll be sleeping well tonight.

Demai: Combined with Ragued to provide cover for our frail center backs. Still not completely sold on him but it’s an improvement over his play versus Holland.

Wissem Ben Yahia: At some points in the match I was wondering where the hell he was. Couldn’t figure out if he got lost in the mud or something! It’s weird to see him so far from his best. Maybe he’s contributing in ways I’m not noticing… Has to figure out a way to bring more offensively to our team. I know he’s capable.

Fahid Ben Khalfallah: Provided the assist on our first goal and turned a defender inside out before winning a free kick later in the half. Played well and looked downright pissed off when they were taping his head after his collision with Oliech.

Tijani Belaid: Still haven’t seen him reproduce his Slavia form for the NT. Not a bad performance but not a special one by any means.

Issam Jemaa: Atoned for his unacceptable miss with a well taken goal almost immediately after Oliech scored. You could tell he was disgusted with himself for missing that wide open header with the way he slammed the ball but thankfully he got a chance to slam another one… into the back of the Kenyan net. Was limping pretty badly at the end of the match after he was hacked down outside the box. Hope he’s ok…

Substitutes

Ousemma Darragi: An outing like that leaves you wondering why he wasn’t included in the list from the start! The source of the second goal with that timely interception that put Jemaa in the one on one situation. Nearly added one of his own with a clever long distance strike that nearly caught the Kenyan goalkeeper off his line. I’d like him to start our next match in place of Demai.

Mohamed Ali Ghariani: A very pleasant surprise. Combined nicely with Darragi on the left side and should have had an assist if not for Jemaa’s bizarre miss. He really put it on a silver platter for the Lens striker. With an outing like that you’d have to think he’ll be back in the team again. Cool to see someone from outside the big four in the national team.

Seif Ghezal: Came in as a kind of holding midfielder/extra defender after we had scored our second. Good move by Coelho who recognized that our backline was struggling big time.

Coaching Analysis

Humberto Coelho and Habib Mejri are lucky that we didn’t lose tie or lose this match (which we could’ve). Their decision to start Haggui was already being questioned and in retrospect people were right to doubt them in that regard. Their substitutions made up for it at least…

Some reactions from players and football federation officials here.

Hamdi Kasraoui and Wissem Ben Yahia on Mosaique FM’s recap sport.

Goals can be viewed here.

Pictures here

Not much else to say except hamdullah and wait for Nigeria versus Mozambique tomorrow. Not expecting many favors from the Green Eagles but who knows right? In any case, we got our three points and won’t have to live under heavy stress for the next few months. Now we’ll have time to prepare in peace and hopefully the stadium will be full when Mozambique comes to town on June 6th.

Ya3tikoum essa7a ya louled. Keep it up!

Tags: Ammar Jemal, Group H, Habib Mejri, Humberto Coelho, Issam Jemaa, Mohamed Ali Ghariani, Oussemma Darragi, Tunisia vs. Kenya

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 95 comments.

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By Abdullah | April 3rd, 2009 at 12:25 pm

Ya i’m with you on that one Rami, but there is no telling if he will be guaranteed a spot if he leaves esperance so either he takes that risk or he plays it safe as you just mentioned.

So it’s really a question of where can he go to get some decent playing time?

Oh and Lassad had a hamstring problem when he was in Tunisia but how is he doing now?, can he play this sunday?
I really hope so because Depor is playing Espanyol and if they win it could mean a real big step closer to Champions League football.

History:

1991-1992 –> ESPANYOL 0 – DEPOR 3
1992-1993 –> ESPANYOL 0 – DEPOR 2
1994-1995 –> ESPANYOL 1 – DEPOR 0
1995-1996 –> ESPANYOL 0 – DEPOR 0
1996-1997 –> ESPANYOL 0 – DEPOR 1
1997-1998 –> ESPANYOL 2 – DEPOR 0
1998-1999 –> ESPANYOL 2 – DEPOR 2
1999-2000 –> ESPANYOL 0 – DEPOR 0
2000-2001 –> ESPANYOL 0 – DEPOR 2
2001-2002 –> ESPANYOL 1 – DEPOR 0
2002-2003 –> ESPANYOL 3 – DEPOR 1
2003-2004 –> ESPANYOL 2 – DEPOR 0
2004-2005 –> ESPANYOL 1 – DEPOR 1
2005-2006 –> ESPANYOL 1 – DEPOR 2
2006-2007 –> ESPANYOL 1 – DEPOR 3
2007-2008 –> ESPANYOL 1 – DEPOR 0

History tells us this is going to be a hard one for Depor, who are playing a team wich is on the edge to be relegated.

Posted from Netherlands

By Achraf | April 3rd, 2009 at 12:36 pm

I hope Lassad Nouioui plays, i really get excited watching him, all he needs now is a goal.

Posted from United States

By Achraf | April 4th, 2009 at 12:46 pm

Good News!! Chikhaoui was back training this week!

http://chi5aoui17.skyrock.com/2364298887-Le-retour-de-Yassine-aux-entrainements-avec-le-groupe.html

Posted from United States

By Feedi | April 4th, 2009 at 1:27 pm

That is very good news!!Is he training all the time with the team or a litle bit?I think a litle bit.2 stars are coming in april back!(mouihbi and Chikhaoui)

Posted from Netherlands

By Rachid | April 4th, 2009 at 7:41 pm

What has Mouihbi done for the National Team? Zilch, if I recall right! We should not jump the gun, at least not too much.

By Achraf | April 4th, 2009 at 7:55 pm

Well i am happy to get our Zidan back, Just having chikha called up will build moral for the players and motivation.

Posted from United States

By skander | April 5th, 2009 at 3:29 am

where the hell is Ben frej??????

Posted from Sweden

By Abdullah | April 5th, 2009 at 11:02 am

LASSAD SCORED HIS FIRST GOAL TODAY!!!

Posted from Netherlands

By Abdullah | April 5th, 2009 at 11:11 am

Unbelievable Lassad has amazing free kick skills & dribbles i hope someone puts up a highlight of this match later.

Posted from Netherlands

By Abdullah | April 5th, 2009 at 11:49 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN8cMlZn0wY

Posted from Netherlands

By Achraf | April 5th, 2009 at 5:38 pm

Wow! That Lassad Goal was amazing, I am very happy for him, and coelho was smart to let him rest for precaution. Also Ali zitouni scored 2 goals today for Antalyaspor giving them a 4-2 win!

Posted from United States

By Achraf | April 8th, 2009 at 10:14 am

Tunisia only went up 2 rankings this month, I thought it would be a lot higher. Kenya went down 11 rankings, Mozambique went up 11 rankings, and Nigeria went down 6 rankings. http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ranking/lastranking/gender=m/fullranking.html#confederation=0&rank=180

By thamer | April 8th, 2009 at 1:21 pm

tunisia also tied ghana in accra and holland in tunis and got negative points for it…so these rankings obviously dont mean anything.

Posted from United States

By Rami | April 8th, 2009 at 10:23 pm

Yea I think those results haven’t even translated in the latest rankings even. There’s some kind of interval that makes them take a while to reflect. I haven’t done any research on that or anything but its the only reasonable explanation I can find. They don’t mean anything but it’d be nice if we were in the top 50 so at least we’re on that first page

Posted from United States

By Feedi | April 9th, 2009 at 2:48 pm

Shit.Ess lost.Good news for ess and ca.

Posted from Netherlands

By Rachid | April 10th, 2009 at 11:46 am

Yes, heartbreaking as it may be, but l’Etoile did lose, and they did not deserve to win. A bunch of fresh legs from CSS and new recruits determined to show their stuff did the trick for CSS. It did not help that l’Etoile players showed no motivation whatsoever to win. At times, I wondered which team was more concerned about winning. Not sure what to think about their coach either!

With that said, yesterday’s results highlighted some problems we have in the Tunisian championship. How credible is it for Kasserine to beat Stade Tunisien in Tunis by 2-0? How credible is it for Marsa to beat H. Lif (who just beat CA and almost EST few weeks ago)? Why didn’t CSS play as well against CA? Wasn’t that 89th minute penealty kick for CA imaginary? All of these leave one wondering if this is even worth watching! I stayed up late to watch Dimanche Sport, but it was almost 11 pm and the show was not on!!! Does TV7 have any common sense to broadcast that show so late on a weekday? This is some of the BS that goes on in our otherwise fine country!

Posted from United States

By Rami | April 10th, 2009 at 1:23 pm

Rachid, I understand your frustration but I thought the foul on Traore was very much real. If you want to check Jeudi Sport here’s a link buddy:

http://www.dailymotion.com/group/DimancheSport

Otherwise the best news of the day is that Chikhaoui is aiming to be back next week or at least for the last two games of FC Zurich’s season

http://www.tunisie-foot.com/fr/news.asp?id=11410

Posted from United States

By Abdullah | April 10th, 2009 at 6:21 pm

More good news is(i shouldn’t really call it ” good ” news since it involves another player getting injured) but Lassad wil probably start this sunday because Riki is injured.

Posted from Netherlands

By Achraf | April 10th, 2009 at 7:47 pm

Chikhaoui ya m3allam! Good to see him back, hopefully he will not have any setbacks. Every Tunisian should thank the FC Barcelona doctors.

I hope Lassad will score this weekend then he will have his spot every week.

By Feedi | April 11th, 2009 at 6:09 am

I hope Chikhaoui and Mouihbi can be the same as before there injurie.I am happy to see them back and inshaalah rabbi m3ahom!!

Posted from Netherlands

By Yassine | April 11th, 2009 at 9:06 am

http://goal.com/en/news/89/africa/2009/04/11/1203147/zurich-tunisia-ace-yassine-chikhaoui-closing-in-on-return
Great article Rami. It’s being referenced on several Tunisian forums.

By Abdullah | April 11th, 2009 at 1:13 pm

I’ll be ready to watch FCZ’s match on the 18th goooo CHIKHA!!!!

Posted from Netherlands

By Abdullah | April 11th, 2009 at 1:27 pm

http://www.deportivo-la-coruna.com/dlconnect.php?match=126 starting line-up was announced today for Depor’s match 2morrow against Atletico Madrid.

Posted from Netherlands

By Rachid | April 11th, 2009 at 3:26 pm

Setif 0 – Esperance 1. Bravo Esperance!!! Amazing what Faouzi Benzarti has done with the team in such a short time. He’s a brilliant coach! I’m usually hard on Kasraoui, but today I have to say he made incredible saves and showed a lot of COURAGE. Bravo!!!!

By Rami | April 11th, 2009 at 4:01 pm

I second that Rachid. Really incredible performance by Esperance especially if you consider they just played two days ago. If not for some shocking refereeing decisions (so many missed calls by both the ref and the guys on the touchline) then it could’ve been an even better scoreline. Looking forward to the match in Rades.

Thanks Yassine

Posted from United States

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